For centuries, well-educated and literate people thought it to be of the utmost importance to get out of bed on the right side. Why? Well, someone had the idea that to get out of the bed on the left side provided easy access for evil spirits. Honestly, that is what got stuck in their minds back and some still think that way. Reminds me of when people will ask those who seem to be having a bad day so they ask them “Did you get out on the wrong side of the bed?” I laugh at that because I think it’s nothing to worry about, but no doubt some people believe it. For me, I would feel bad for the folks who have a right-side medical problem and they really need to get out of the left side of the bed without hurting themselves!
Well, let’s remember this: There’s nothing in the Bible about the left side of the bed providing access for evil spirits! It’s simply a superstition—a belief that really has no basis yet many believe it is true, ugh! Here’s a few questions about superstitious habits:
1) Have you ever knocked on wood as if it can help you with something you need?
2) Have you made a wish before you blew out your birthday candles, making sure you didn’t tell anyone what that wish was because if you did, you wouldn’t get your wish?
3) Have you ever held your breath when you’re by a cemetery to prevent a spirit from entering your body?
4) Have you thrown a pinch of salt over your left shoulder to counteract bad luck?
5) Have you broken a mirror and believe you are stuck with 7 years of bad luck?
6) Have you ever opened an umbrella inside and then forgot that now that will bring you misfortune?
It’s funny but does that make those things inherently wrong? The answer to that question is a subjective one. What does it really mean to you? If you see these practices as nothing more than fun and don’t assign spiritual power to them, then there’s probably nothing wrong with what you’re doing. But if you truly believe you can manipulate the unseen world through practices like these, you may be treading into unbiblical superstition and that is NOT good!
Stevie Wonder is a favorite of mine. His song, Superstition is about the negative effects of blind belief in superstitions. He urged listeners to understand what they believe in his song: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain’t the way-no-no!” Sadly, Stevie, he had to put up with ridiculous superstitions about his blindness and that is why he wrote the song Superstition!
In 1 Timothy 4:7 [TPT], the Apostle Paul warned: “Be quick to abstain from senseless traditions and legends, but instead be engaged in the training of truth that brings righteousness.”
The ultimate question for all of us is this: Where do you seek spiritual power? Instead of finding power in the material world, find it in Christ alone – not unbiblical myths! Think of yourself for a moment, what attitude do you think is at the core of the human tendency toward superstition? Does it tempt you? Don’t get pulled into assigning spiritual power to worldly things, instead focus on the joys of the Lord.
Only in Christ do we have the spiritual power we need for living our lives. Everything else is just silly but, often it can turn to be a deadly superstition. You know what to do…AMEN.
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