224. Rock Goes The Gospel - Rolling Stones "Tumbling Dice"

"Tumbling Dice" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones' 1972 double album Exile on Main St., and was the album's first single. The single peaked at number 7 on the US charts and number 5 in the UK. The lyrics tell the story of a gambler who cannot remain faithful to any woman. The music has a blues boogie-woogie rhythm. "Tumbling Dice" has been performed in many of the band's concerts. Cover versions have been created in such diverse styles as reggae, bluegrass and noise rock. An updated version from a female perspective was also a top 40 single for Linda Ronstadt in 1978, which is included in the film FM.

Women think I'm tasty, but they're always tryin' to waste me
And make me burn the candle right down,
But baby, baby, I don't need no jewels in my crown.
'Cause all you women is low down gamblers,
Cheatin' like I don't know how,
But baby, baby, there's fever in the funk house now.
This low down bitchin' got my poor feet a itchin',
You know you know the duece is still wild.

Baby, I can't stay, you got to roll me
And call me the tumblin' dice.
Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry,
Don't you see the time flashin' by.
Honey, got no money,
I'm all sixes and sevens and nines.
Say now, baby, I'm the rank outsider,
You can be my partner in crime.

But baby, I can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin',
Roll me and call me the tumblin' dice.
Oh, my, my, my, I'm the lone crap shooter,
Playin' the field ev'ry night.
Baby, can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin' (dice),
Roll me and call me the tumblin' (Got to roll me.) dice.
Got to roll me. Got to roll me.

Timbling dice is all about unfaithfulness. A gambler, a real wild one, who needs pleasure, a gambler who is playing the field every night and who has itchy feet for more of the same. This is what unfaithfulness looks like according to the song. On the other hand the bible passage this morning in Galatians5:22-23 contains faithfulness and encourages it in our life of following Jesus.

Without faithfulness to God there can be no Christian life. Christianity is based first on faith that God is, and then that through Christ Jesus we can be forgiven and are saved. Our faithfulness is a commitment to adhere to the One God who is true and supreme and to keep His commandments.

In fact, the first two of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), deal directly with our being faithful to God. “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...” These are the words given directly from God to Moses for all people, for all time.

Since God assumes a covenant relationship with His people, He is declaring that He will not tolerate unfaithfulness and competition with anything else. An idol can be in the form of anything that you might place in a higher priority over God. This includes false images of worship or placing anything in our lives that has preeminence over God.

To some, perhaps the most beneficial aspect of faithfulness to God would include the fact that the faithful will not suffer God’s judgment. Until our judgment day, but there are many other blessing that come from our faithfulness while we are here on earth. Along side Galatians these passages tell their own story of our faithfulness

Psalm 37:28 - “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.”

Proverbs 3:12 - “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring your prosperity.”

Proverbs 16:6-7 - “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”

Proverbs 28:20a - “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

Revelation 2:10 - (NKJV) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The most significant element in our Christian life is faithfulness to God. In the days we now live in, we are unsure of what will happen next across the globe. There are wars, famines, economic collapse, and many natural disasters. Being faithful to God gives us great peace and assurance that we will be brought through by His promises , His Love and Care, and his ultimate plans.

Our faithful allegiance to Almighty God is the only thing that we can really count on; He is our hope in a fractured and brokenworld. His provision of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus is the greatest benefit of all if we are faithful believers.