Life is to be lived to the full (Eccles. 9:10). After his gloomy reflections upon death he says that the practical enjoyment of the present and the blessings that God has bestowed upon us is in order. A happy life, a useful life, a life filled with wholesome activity should be lived in view of the fact that the grave is near where all opportunities for enjoyment under the sun will be no more. There’s truth to the old advertising motto, You only go round once so grab all the gusto you can. It was unfortunate it was used to promote a beer! The Bible doesn’t teach asceticism (Eccles. 6:2).
We are about to enter another Commonwealth Games, and with past records and strenuous training by the budding athletes, the statements of Solomon in Eccles. 9:11 just don’t seem right. He speaks this in the context of other things that normally go together – the race to the swift; the battle to the strong etc. The denial of these things is what gets our attention. He is not denying the general rule of life, nor is he saying that life is but a lottery where the lazy and the industrious have equal chance of drawing prizes, but rather reminding us that the best laid plans of mice and men often gang aglay, and our trust should be in the Lord and not in maxims. Men are creatures of time and chance, and misfortune strikes at random. Diligence (v.10) is required but is not a guarantee of personal plans. It seems some men need the spur (to apply themselves), whilst others need the curb (not to trust in riches etc.).
The race is not to the swift (cf. The tortoise and the hare – this is not the wise man’s point). It’s true that the race of life is not to the swift in the sense that it’s not a sprint, but rather a marathon (Heb. 12:1ff; Isa. 40:31; Heb.10:36). There are some things that are only wrought by time, perseverance and prayer. But this is not the point here. We see the runner that trips and falls whilst leading. Remember the man who won the gold at the Winter Olympics in the speed skating when the first three all spun out on the final curve and he came through to win!? However we can win the race of life.
The battle is not to the strong. Napolean said that God was always on the side of the strongest battalions, but remember David and Goliath (! Sam. 17:47; Ps. 33:16). Remember Pharoah and his chariots (Ex. 14:27), Zerab and his million strong army defeated by Asa (2 Chron. 14:12), Sennacherib who had Hezekiah shut up in Jerusalem like a bird in a cage but who lost an army to plague in a night ((2 Chron. 20:27). So it is we can win against the Devil (1 John 4:4).
Bread is not to the wise. Capacity and diligence are usually rewarded, but wisdom doesn’t ensure competency: to do this requires other endowments. But we can be provided for (Ps. 37:25; Matt.6:33).
Riches are not to men of understanding. Men of talent and industry often fail to obtain riches, and many that do, often lose them. It is common to find poor wise men (v.15), and rich fools (Lk. 12:20). The general rule is diligence brings riches (Prov. 10:4), but not always. Regardless, we can have the riches in Christ: labour for these which thieves cannot break through and steal.
Favour is not to men of skill. Even men who are geniuses don’t always get the recognition they deserve. But we can have the favour of God. Time and chance happen to them all; the time must be propitious and give opportunities for the exercise of gifts and abilities. May father could have had a tertiary education but circumstances didn’t allow it. A man of very inferior talent, should he fall on a favourable time, may succeed with comparative ease, whereas in a time that is not propitious, abilities of the first order cannot preserve their possessor from failure and disappointment. But we can all obtain favour from God.
The little story in Eccles 9:13-16 illustrates the truth of what he is saying. But having spoken about the anomalies of life, are there any lessons for us? As to diligence, let every man do his best. As to humility, beware of over-confidence and let not the strong man glory in his strength (Jer. 9:23,24). With prudence, don’t neglect the possibility of failure, and as to submission, accept with meekness the allotments of Providence and Discipline.