Photo: © Julien Rousset - Fotolia.com

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)

Relying on secular achievements for happiness is unwise. At some point, those who are champions of success will no longer carry the torch. For age wears on us in many ways, and the glory of our youth, like grass, will whither away. Of course, anything could go wrong at any stage of our lives, to destroy the foundations we’ve labored to build. Hence, time and chance are essentially unreliable and whimsical.

Nevertheless, one thing is sure: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NASB). Neither time nor chance will ever get the best of Him, because He doesn’t change. That’s good news, because it assures us that Jesus performs His good work at full capacity all the time. Moreover, it affirms that He will accomplish His good pleasure, because He can’t fail.

But rather than embracing the life of Jesus, many go after things that are passing away, desiring to achieve fame, fortune, and popularity. What good are these pursuits if they don’t honor God? It’s all vanity, a chasing after the wind. These, too, will fall victim to time and chance.

People often measure success by their ability to obtain worldly things, failing to understand that success isn’t measured by quantity, but in quality of life. It’s not what you hold in your hands that makes you successful, but what you do with your hands that determines the measure of your success.

Are you hoarding things on earth to rise higher than someone else, or are you storing treasure in heaven in hope to share the wealth of your happiness with others? Don’t worry about what you’re lacking in this world. Wrap your arms around Jesus. Embrace the will of God for your life; and you will have something in your possession that neither time nor chance can ever take away from you.

Post by Chris Esty

+Chris Esty is an Inspirational Writer, Photographer, and the Founder of The Bible Post ministry. Listen to his testimony Here