luck of the draw

Here’s something else I’ve seen on this earth. Races aren’t always won by those who run fast. Battles aren’t always won by those who are strong. Wise people don’t always have plenty of food. Clever people aren’t always wealthy. Those who have learned a lot aren’t always successful. God controls the timing of every event. He also controls how things turn out.

- Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NIRV)

 

King Solomon was known for his wisdom, but the story of his life reveals that he was also a great fool.
His years of ruling included the most prosperous years that Israel had known. 

But King Solomon loved building fancy things and foreign women, to the point of building great temples to the gods that were important to his wives.
His frivolousness resulted in years of oppression of his people and idolatry. 
King Solomon was wise, but wisdom only helps us if we use it.   

I like the Message translation of this verse: I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is— The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.

You might be the fastest or the strongest, but you aren’t always going to win.
We might be smart and clever, but we may be lacking in some of the things that are more important than money or property.

We could work our entire lives to set ourselves up for success, and in one moment it can all be taken away.
Natural disasters, evil people, unexpected bad luck, we all have it. 
Wisdom is good to have, but it also matters that God controls the timing of every event and how everything turns out.

We will all have bad luck at some point - just don’t turn from God when it does.
The luck of the draw is one thing, but God is consistent. 

 

#dailybreadbykitty

Daily Inspiration from the Bible