Ecclesiastes 9:11

This last few months have been challenging for us. We've made some changes in our life and along with that have had a series of health issues impacting both our immediate and extended families. As I reflected on these things and the constant attention they are requiring at the moment, I thought of a verse in Ecclesiastes that I studied for devotional a few weeks back. I've included the devotional below.

I turned and saw under the sun that the race does not (go) to the swift or the battle to the mighty;
neither does food (belong) to the wise, or riches to the ones with understanding, or favor to the ones with knowledge, for all of them will encounter time and chance. Ecc. 9:11

In Ecclesiastes, The Preacher wrestles with the complexity of life in a broken world and poignantly expresses his frustration. His disillusionment drives him to lay aside personal pursuits and instead find hope in God’s providence.

The observations in this scripture address the collision of idealism and reality, of the way life should play out compared against the way it actually does. The Preacher has observed life and taken note of injustices. The first illustrations he provides are the swift runner and the mighty warrior. Despite their arduous training, neither is guaranteed victory in their area of expertise. So it is in the examples of those who hold wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Their insight gains them no assurances in life, not even the most elementary physical need of food. The cause of these seemingly incongruous scenarios is found in the concluding line. “Time” and “chance,” factors outside the control of individuals, are the wild card that demolishes the hopes of those with whom it crosses paths.

This scripture should give each believer pause. Western Christianity is inevitably impacted by the individualistic, “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” philosophy that is a part of our wider culture. A strong work ethic and diligence in cultivating wisdom are important (9:10), but placing hope in our own ability to succeed will only end in frustration. Time and chance are inevitable factors in this broken world. They push against assumptions of what is right and just and will eventually topple our tower of expectations, leaving us broken in the rubble. There is no formula that ensures success, no blueprint to repel difficulty. Instead, there is God who holds the righteous and the wise in His hands (9:1). It is from this perspective, that of being held in God’s own hand, that we are able to see past the apparent futility of life and find both divine satisfaction and fulfillment.