More...or Less?

"My first girl was so good. She did everything perfectly. Never a problem. My second girl...she was different. Her teacher told me one time, 'Virginia, if you had only one child you would have thought you were the most perfect parent in the world..."

I love that story from an acquaintance of mine. She went on to comfort me with, "You know, Mrs. W. if you only had two children you would have thought you were the worst parent ever..."

"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 happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them."
(Ecclesiastes 9:11-12)

There are old wives sayings such as: the fly on the top today will be the fly on the bottom tomorrow.

And what does that have to do with Ecclesiastes? Just this, life has a way of putting everyone in their place. About the time I think I have at least 90% of the answers...I find that I haven't even got 1% of the questions. The race is not always to the swift--nor the battle to the strong. Neither bread to the wise, nor riches...but time and chance happeneth to them all. That's us, time and chance happeneth to US.

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
(1 Corinthians 10:12)

Another wives saying that I remember was, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" which goes along with I Corinthians.

What makes a person better than their peers? Or better than any one else for that matter? Some folks think it is money, or possessions, but what is it really? You can take money and possessions away from a king and they still act like...a king. You can take money and possessions away from a person of good character and they still will act like...a person of good character.

"And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
(Luke 18:9-14)

Jesus was a righteous individual. He spoke with authority. He told Some people things they didn't want to hear: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27)

And he spoke things to others they never expected to hear: "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
(Luke 7:48-50)

Those of us who have been washed in the blood of Jesus know that we can go to Jesus and he will continually be there for us. What counts isn't that we are perfect, but that He is perfect.

"And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Let us each fall upon the mercies of God imploring his forgiveness for our failures, and his grace and strength to rise up and continue to walk in God's way, remembering that His grace is sufficient, His power is perfect, and that:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;"
(2 Corinthians 4:7-8)

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!