Lent - Day 21: Time and Chance

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.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

“Life lived long enough will prove that life isn’t always fair.  Hard work doesn’t always lead to success, honesty is not always rewarded and position is not always based on merit.  Since time and chance happens to everyone, it’s our job to be content in His mercy and ambitious for His glory.”  -Emanuel Baek, Words of Life

Ever wonder why your life isn’t different?  Why you don’t have more money and less bills?  Why some things turn out well and others just don’t?  When I first read this passage in Ecclesiastes, I thought, “Sure, time and chance happen to those who don’t believe in God.”  But that is not what Solomon says.  Time and chance happen to us all.

The Rolling Stones sang, “You can't always get what you want.  But if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need.”   Our wants spring from an imperfect heart.  What we need flows to us from the heart of our Creator.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

And all these things shall be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33