“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

I love the Bible for so many reasons; and one of those reasons is because it is the written Word of God, and as such, is the only Authority pertaining to Truth.

You watch many news programs as of late, and they’re interviewing many different people from different walks of life with high levels of education, but they don’t have jobs. The newscasters are quick to report that finding and keeping a job is difficult in this day and age. Then we also hear people say that they have been dealt a bad hand in life; or in simpler language, they weren’t given a good chance to succeed.

I understand where we are economically; and that some people have different opportunities than others. But I don’t believe that it’s not possible to find and keep a job because you live in a certain area; or that you can’t make a living and take care of yourself and family because of the economy. I also don’t believe in being dealt a bad hand. You might say that those are a “reality.”

It’s funny how we as Christians let “reality” cause us to not believe what God’s Word says. Our text verse talks about those with certain qualifications (the swift, the strong, the wise, men of understanding, men of skill) and the things they would be favored to win, or obtain (the race, the battle, bread, riches, favour). But praise God, His Word is the only Authority on truth; note the last part of the verse says that time and chance happened to them all.

With this thought, I travel to the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. One man was given five talents, another two talents, and the third one talent. Now these men didn’t receive the same amount of talents; but verses 14 and 15 say the man who gave the servants these talents was gone on a journey into a far country, so they each had time. And verse 15 says the talents were given “to every man according to his several ability”; so they each had a chance.

God not only gives us talents, or gifts, to be used to glorify Him and to provide for our homes; but He also gives the opportunity to put these talents and gifts to use. Life is full of opportunities – but let’s not fail to heed the Word of God and then have to look back on missed opportunities.