The Race is NOT to the Swift or ... Life is Unfair

Ecclesiastes 9:10-11

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 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

 

11 I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift

or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned;

but time and chance happen to them all.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way we think, and the way we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Life is unfair

As you see in the passage above life is unfair. The world is an unfair battleground and we are sometimes at its mercy. I'm sure that you've seen games where the best sports team didn't win even though they performed very well on paper and were highly favored by all the "experts".

The Genius

Throughout history there have been many occasions when great minds and magnificent, talented artists went amazingly un-rewarded. Edgar Allen Poe died poor and alone such as many others who had once acquired greatness.

Give 100%

Solomon says we should give everything we do in life our very best. He is absolutely right. We should give our all no matter what the task. This does not mean we will always succeed but it does make us a winner in that we did not give up.

The "Has-Been"

I don't remember the name of the person but an older actor was being interviewed by a local TV station. This actor had some successful seasons on a show that only lasted a short while. Now he was older and close to retirement.

When asked how he felt to be a has-been, he just answered; "Better a has-been than a never-was.". He did his best and was satisfied with the results although he was not a "superstar".

Our Best is Not Just Related to Physical Well Being

Just as athletes and business people and actors should give their best in what they do, we need to give our best to God. The outlook may sometimes seem bleak and hopeless but the uplook is always good.

How to Become a Winner

If we remember that we are here to serve God, not people, we will win in the end. God wants us to succeed in life but He also wants us to give Him the glory. Give credit where credit is due. Remember, Edgar Allen Poe created wonderful stories but God created Poe!

Love in Christ

- Bob

Ecclesiastes 8:12-14 - Bad Things Happen to Good People