HOW MANY CHRISTIANS MISINTERPRET ECCLESIASTES 9:11 - Olukotun Gideon Olusola

Leicester City wasn't the best-equipped team when they won the English Premier League in 2016 but such triumph happens probably once in a blue moon. 

Naomi Osaka was No. 68 on the world ranking before defeating 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam in the U.S open final last year. 

Messi and Ronaldo may not have won the Ballon d'Or every year in their playing career but either of the two has won it ten out of the last eleven years.

What does this mean to you?

Here's my perspective. The race may not always be to the swift as the Bible affirms, but it's also a truth that it's often to them. Stop giving yourself excuses for laziness. There is no excuse good enough for failure no matter how much you try to justify it. And in actual fact, in most cases, what we call failures are not failures but setbacks and those are bound to surely come. 

Stop consoling yourself with wrong interpretations of the scripture. The Preacher in the passage talked about accidental mishaps. Some versions refer to it as unpredictable misfortunes and sudden disasters. That is, they are not very common; they don't always happen. So the strongest runners may not always win the race but the truth be told, in most cases, they do.

If you try and don't succeed, don't give up by telling yourself, "I have tried." If your trial attempt doesn't get you your desired result, you try again and continue trying while you tweak along the way till you get what you want. Don't give any room for mediocrity.  

What goal do you want to achieve before the year runs out? What are you aspiring to get? Is it a job? Is it a promotion in the workplace? Is it a certain level of influence? Start developing capacity and competence for whatever it is. Faith is not an excuse for laziness. Gone are the days when you share testimonies of not qualifying for a job and yet got it. In the world we live in today, qualification is the bedrock for promotion. 

If you are not qualified, why should you be considered in the first place? Esther qualified as a beautiful young virgin before getting access to be interviewed in the palace? Daniel and the Hebrew boys were at first, qualified for the king's training before being appointed and promoted. Even David who got a job in the palace as the king's personal artist and armour bearer didn't get there without being qualified for the job. 

The Holy scripture says it's profitable to be skillful and wise. You can't be looking for a job in Google or Microsoft and know very little about technology. If you get a chance at their interview, you'll be given the backseat and that way, your chances are very very slim. Don't leave your life to chances. Live intentionally. Get the needed skills to compete with the best in your space. Then you can now leave the rest to God.
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