“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11 MKJV).
I received revelation on the word “chance” in this version.
Another version is pretty much on the money:
“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the mighty; nor even bread to the wise; nor even riches to the men of discernment; nor even favor to knowing men. For time and occurrence happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11 LITV).
What that verse is saying is that nothing happens by our power; God does it all, “chance” meaning “fate” or “all things are determined from above.” Aesop’s fable of the tortoise and hare race are an example, but not a good one. That story illustrates that the race can be won by the slow on occasion, that speed is not the only determining factor. What Ecclesiastes says is that whatever happens is out of our hands, though we go through the motions.
Fatalism? No; that is an attitude, though definitions don’t always describe it that way. I speak of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the way things are. But to the definition one source gives the word, I say, “Yes.”
WordWeb:
“1. A submissive mental attitude resulting from acceptance of the doctrine that everything that happens is predetermined and inevitable
2. A philosophical doctrine holding that all events are predetermined in advance for all time and human beings are powerless to change them”
Victor Hafichuk
– July 27, 2010
Related posts:
From: Deniese To: The Path of Truth Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 5:09 PM Subject: Funerals Hi, I have been reading your website. I am on the Journey of obedience to Jesus Christ. I have a question. Should a follower of Jesus attend funerals of loved ones who are not saved or people people in the so called "church"? My husband , children and I stopped going to church a few months ago. We are studying the scriptures and for the 1st time walking in obedience. A pastor from an old Church died suddenly a few days ago, my husband wants to go to the memorial service tomorrow to pay respects to the family, I don't want to go. I'm not sure if I'm right. He says then if your mother or father dies, and if they die without salvation are we not to go to there funeral? For some reason, I don't think we should be going to funerals of the unsaved. Even family. I want to please the Lord above all else, but I don't want to be in error anymore.. We have been so called saved for 15 years, but a year ago the Lord have been opening our eyes to deception. I'm tired now. I want the truth. Thank you. Follower of Christ, Deniese From: Deniese To: The Path of Truth Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 5:14 PM Subject: Weed Hi again, I am trying to tell my husband that a follower of Jesus should not smoke weed. Is it OK for a follower to smoke weed? My husband says its a herb and God gave all the herbs in the field and he can't find anything in the bible that s...
From: Alexander To: The Path of Truth Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 12:51 PM Subject: How to tell if Jesus restores you Paul and Victor, My name is Alex. I just turned 25 last week. I live in Chicago. Growing up I went to a large non-denominational church in the suburbs. Big light show, positive message, preaching "basic salvation" of accept Jesus into your heart. You probably know the type. Anyways I went to this church growing up, got baptized at 10 (mostly to be able to eat the crackers with the adults in service) and went to church camp and some short mission trips in Jr. High and High School. Didn't have much in the way of a relationship with God or Jesus. The Holy Spirit was an abstract concept to me, and not a real person. I believed in the sense that I really didn't have a good reason not to, because everyone around me, my family and friends and church community believed. So I didn't have srong convictions about it. Didn't really pray or read the bible. Pretty much jumped into trouble as soon as I could in high school by drinking and smoking and chasing girls, and was mean to my sisters and my parents since puberty and a jerk to a lot of my peer group - basically I never really ever tried to obey Jesus's commands. But I had enough of a fear of Hell not to totally blaspheme. As I got later into high school, ages 16-17, I was starting to doubt the whole thing. Stuck somewhere between not really willing to believe it with my whole heart and soul but no...
A believing woman asked us: “I wanted to ask, if we, as women, have the right to rebuke or correct anyone in the Lord?”