Perspective
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth as he that feareth and oath.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.
I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, not the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength… The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools
Ecclesiastes 9:2, 10-11, 16a, 17
Focus.
Sometimes I get caught up in trying to get ahead, chasing a better life… but it’s all vanity. The life we are given is to be enjoyed. After we are dead there will be no more opportunity to enjoy what we have been given on this earth.
It’s foolish to spend that precious time worrying and striving to get to a place where we can enjoy life. It stands to reason that when we get there, there will be somewhere else to aspire to be, and the striving continues.
So how can I strike a balance? What is the purpose of it all?
To be sure, we should work hard and invest in our futures, but the fact that it can all be snuffed out in the blink of an eye, or that doing everything right no more guarantees success than purchasing a lotto ticket guarantees winning the lottery; serves to temper ambition and striving to position oneself for gain.
It is easier and better to trust in God. He alone knows our paths and where it is he has for us to go in life. Rest in Him, and obey as he leads. He is the vehicle that will take you wherever you need to go, and he is also the destination. In Him is no lack; he is all-sufficient. He desires to show us the life he has designed for us. His thoughts toward us are of peace and not of evil, to give us an expected end.
