Jump Start # 707

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.”

Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s look at life from “under the sun,” a favorite expression in that book. Under the sun, things don’t look so hot. Under the sun there doesn’t seem to be much of an advantage in being smart or righteous, because in the end you die, just like the fool. What’s the use! Under the sun, everything a person works for goes to someone else, sooner or later. Life under the sun doesn’t seem fair.

Our verse is an extension of that theme. Under the sun, those who ought to win often do not. This is true in running races, this is true in battles. We could add to that list. In sports, the teams that ought to win often don’t. I sure understand that. I’m in a fantasy football league with several family members and friends. I believe there are 12 of us in this league. It’s a simple thing, just pick the winning team each week. Guess who is soundly in last place? Yes, me. Those who ought to win are not winning! The same is true in political races. The same is true in simple things like getting the job, getting the promotion. Often the boss’ cousin who never graduated from college gets what you are qualified and trained for.

We scream “that’s not fair,” and that’s exactly Solomon’s point. Those who are wise do not always get bread. Often, it’s the guy who is running a scam. Wealth isn’t promised to the discerning. Time and chance or what we might call luck has something to do with all of this.

If what Solomon wrote is true, then what’s the point? Why go to school? Why try your best? Why be honorable and a person of integrity and ethics? Why, if it may not pay off or a worthless person wins? If we are not careful in our thinking, we will throw in the towel and simply slide into the muck and mire where others are and become one of them.

The passage does not say that the wicked and worthless win out over the righteous every time. That’s not true. We know that. Honesty does pay, if not financially, it does in character and in reputation.

The righteous are not promised that this world would favor them because they are righteous. That is our thinking, not God’s. Righteous ways are noticed. Jesus said, ‘let your light shine…’ Paul said a similar things as he contrasted the righteous to a crooked and perverse generation.

Hard work and diligence is the right thing. We know that. The world is full of those who try to cut corners, cheat the system, get by with as little as possible, and benefit on top of all that. What they are doing is not right. They void themselves of character, they do not learn how to develop themselves in the end they are dependent upon others to do what they cannot.

Solomon’s view was horizontal—life under the sun. Our view is vertical—life under the SON. Under the SON (Jesus), righteousness prevails. Under the SON (Jesus), good deeds are remembered. Under the SON (Jesus), the righteous is rewarded.

Time and chance are a part of our world down here. It won’t always be fair nor right. There will be people in position of leadership who can not lead. There will be people in position of power who will abuse that. There will be people who do the selfish instead of the right thing. Some will take advantage of others. Because of their position little can be done. This is life under the sun…someday we will be around the throne where the SON is and all of this will be a distant memory that really won’t matter.

It’s like a flight on an airplane. Whenever I fly, there is always someone who asks, “How was your flight?” Some, were not so good. Bumpy, loud, and not comfortable at all. But once on the ground and busy doing other things, that plane ride is forgotten. It doesn’t matter. I tend to think much of what bothers us now will be like that in eternity. Traffic jams, long lines, impatience, sick kids, missing car keys, lousy bosses, picking the wrong teams, being overlooked again for a promotion—all distant memories. Those things won’t matter once we’ve reached our destination, Heaven.

Time and chance happens—but God knows. You just keep doing what you should. Don’t get a bad attitude. Don’t lose your cool. Don’t forget that you are headed somewhere. Don’t forget that you follow the SON (Jesus).

Roger