Springing off a previous post, Bible Number Significance, I’m reminded of Christians who, armed with these insights (with their ‘safety’ off), adopt the practice of ascribing significance to numbers in their daily walk.

Striving for a sense of affirmation by God, and to be in harmony with His will, numbers with spiritual meanings are sought and embraced. “Good” numbers, like 7 (perfection, fullness) and 3 (divine completeness), are taken into consideration as they relate to the decision-making process. For instance…

“Does this house we’re wanting to buy have a ‘good’ address? a ‘good’ price? a ‘good’ number of stairs? a ‘good’ number of neighbors?” Implying, does it have “good” numbers associated with it? Do the numbers begin with 3 or 7? Do they add up to 3 or 7? If not, do they add up to another “good” number like 10 (3+7), or 21 (3×7), or 9 (3²), or 27 (3³), etc.. If not, “Well… then the house must not be ordained by God for our purchase.”

Perhaps the example was ridiculous (I hope so!). Or maybe “it hit really close to home”. I certainly run into Christians, some very serious and spiritual, some who are in the ministry, who use this practice to ascertain God’s will. The bottom line: Living this way is akin to soothsaying [fortune-telling] and divination, where the “bible number” serves to fore-tell or influence a decision. We’re not appointed to this!

De 18:13 “You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
14 “For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.

So, to what degree should numbers – “biblical numbers” – play a role in a Christian’s conduct and manner of living? Following are some examples (Disclaimer: All examples appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real examples, living or dead, is purely coincidental.):

• Purchases (eg “I’ll give you $70.77 for that, but not a penny more… or less.”)
• Dining totals & tips amounts (eg “I (barely) give 10% to God, I’ll (barely) give a 10% tip to this waiter!”
• Auction bids (eg high bid: $43.77)
• Calendar dates (eg is Fri the 13th a problem?)
• Phone numbers (eg here’s a heavenly phone number: 373-3737; and when added, equals 33 – doubly divine!)
• Age (eg 66 yrs old – bummer!)
• Elevators (eg “Are we skipping an actual 13th floor, or is the 14th floor really the 13th?”)

The answer to the question, of course, should be: “NONE! To NO degree! Numbers have no influence upon my life or decision-making. I have a relationship with God, and I walk by faith (according to His word), not by sight (all that is external to the inward working of His Spirit)!”

To this we’ve been appointed…

Joh 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Otherwise…

Re 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
 5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent.