Ecclesiastes 9:11
“I saw something else under the sun. The race isn’t won by fast runners,
or the battle by heroes. Wise people don’t necessarily have food. Intelligent
people don’t necessarily have riches, and skilled people don’t necessarily receive
special treatment. But time and unpredictable events overtake all of
them.” ~ Translation GWTN
Ecclesiastes is one of my top favorite bible books. Solomon was the real deal — he brought it straight, with no chaser.
This passage of scripture is frustrating, sobering, and comforting — all at the same time. What it says in a nutshell is that we can never “override” God’s sovereignty. It can’t be done. You can try all you like, and still find yourself “overtaken by unpredictable events”. If you rest in your own ability to “make things happen”, you will, at some point in your life, find that the “math didn’t add up” — your efforts didn’t make the difference you banked on. The “other person” got the job. Your husband/wife left you, anyhow. All those vitamins and health drinks and workouts, and you still got diagnosed with cancer. Some things are simply out of our control.
It’s okay to strive, and have goals, and make plans — some of us are too scared to do anything, for fear that God will snatch the rug from under our feet, at the moment we touch the ground. I’ve been there, too. But life has a way of showing us just how powerless we really are. God is my shelter. I can live, take risks and dream — trusting by faith, that God will guide me safely to my destination (where He wants me to be). God’s goodness and favor is more important than my natural abilities/intellect/whatever.
I have never heard of GWTN. Give me a KJV or NKJV and I’m cool. When I actually read the bible I most enjoy reading Kings and Samuel.
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Excellent post! Just reading those words brings hope to my spirit. God is amazing and mysterious like that.
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Great post.
I am actually glad that God has other plans for me than the plans I have for myself. He always knows better. We always think that what we have planned is great for us, but it actually might do us harm.
I have been looking for a translation in terms of what kind of Bible I should read. I have been a Christian for many years, but sadly, I have not really dug into the word, which is PATHETIC and not pleasing to the Lord. How can I represent Him if I don’t know what I’m talking about? The God’s Word translation is a new one to me!! I also know of the regular NIV, KJV, etc. Which ones would be a good start for someone like me who is “new” to studying/reading/meditating on the Word?
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Wonderful, wonderful post…
Linking to my blog.
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Thanks for this post and your blog. This is my first visit, but not my last. This post really spoke to me today and more confirmation on top of all the other confirmations, urges, and pushes that God has sent me to just get busy doing what I know to do, what I’m inspired to do, and what I’m able to do. You know, it’s all about faith.
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