Right Time, Wrong Time

Success in poker is about more than simply being dealt good cards.  It also involves timing -- knowing when to make a move in betting, and when to be cautious.  Weak hands given an aggressive play at the right moment still can win.  But strong hands such as K-K can come up against A-A and be dominated.

For some people, timing matters in when you worship God as well.  So in a recent post, we asked when you worship God -- and why you do it at that time.  We know some local poker circuits which hold big tournaments on Saturday instead of Sunday, because is a worship day for some players.  Others have big events seven days a week, and seemingly don't care.

So what does the Bible say about this?  Let's start with what Israel was told to do, as one of the Ten Commandments:

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.... the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work.... - Deuteronomy 5:12-14

 So which day is the "seventh day"?  In our 21st century world, it's easy to conclude that day is Sunday.  But when God said these words, it was Saturday -- a tradition passed down by Israelites (and especially Jews) over thousands of years.  That included the most famous Jew of all....

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.... - Mark 6:1-2

Jesus Christ taught in a synagogue on the seventh-day Sabbath -- mainly because His church was not founded until after His death and resurrection.  The Lord set us an example to follow (I Peter 2:21), even in the day for teaching God's word.

We've been in Sabbath-keeping groups for decades, and choose not to work on Sabbath.  Some would call poker "play" instead of work.  But if we're trying to win money, that's a "work day" to us.

Yet we fear some Sabbath-keepers go to an extreme, and say you cannot worship God on any other day of the week.  We might have agreed years ago, but then we came across this verse....

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.... Suddenly Jesus met them.  "Greetings," he said.  They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him - Matthew 28:1, 9

 This was worship after a Sabbath -- on a Sunday!  Yet Jesus did not correct the women for worshiping Him, only hours after His resurrection.  So it seems God accepts worship at all times of the week.

This can be a complicated, emotional issue.  So we invite you to review our complete Bible study in when to worship God.  It may change your thinking about which "day you keep."  It might even change your poker schedule.