Ecclesiastes 9:12
"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 favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all."
Key Reflection
In the ancient world, the book of Ecclesiastes offered a stark reality check to those who believed that success was determined by one's inherent qualities—speed, strength, wisdom, wealth, and skill. The original audience would have recognized these attributes as valued in their society, yet Solomon’s observation that even the swift do not always win races, the strong do not necessarily triumph in battles, and wise men are not guaranteed bread or riches reflects a profound skepticism towards human control over outcomes. For them, success was often seen as unpredictable, contingent upon "time and chance," highlighting the futility of basing one's hopes on personal merit alone.
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