為主轉念、轉向光明（傳9章）

我又轉念、見日光之下、快跑的未必能贏、力戰的未必得勝、智慧的未必得糧食、明哲的未必得資財、靈巧的未必得喜悅．所臨到眾人的、是在乎當時的機會。（傳 9：11）

本段經文，提到一件世人最不樂見的事實，就是「在乎當時的機會」這句話。「所臨到眾人的，是在乎當時的機會」的原意，是「機會主宰全場」，也就是前面提到的「快跑的」、「力戰的」、「智慧的」、「明哲的」、「靈巧的」這些正面的人生作為，一旦與機會相提並論時，一概為機會所稱霸、完全勝過。

讀傳道書若沒有其他經卷為基礎相佐時，必然會落入悲觀的境界：「這樣努力有何用？還不是虛空的虛空！」但事實上，傳道書是在教我們「轉念」的智慧，也就是不要學世人像無頭蒼蠅一樣，只會往前亂衝，做沒有任何意義的努力。本章多次提到「死亡」的問題，這是在提醒我們，人的一切希望，只要遇到死亡，一樣只能由死亡主宰全場，因為沒有人能勝過死亡。

何謂「轉念的智慧」？就是進入基督裡，藉由真理的聖靈作為我們的保惠師，祂是我們人生的導師，祂將教我們持守正確的人生觀、指引我們人生正確的方向。因為綜觀整本聖經，真理告訴我們：「生活中遇到的問題，往往不在問題本身，而是在信仰」。

轉念，就是要看見真相，看見誰掌握機會？就該去追尋機會的源頭；思考誰掌握死亡？那就要去追尋掌管死亡與生命的真神。耶穌基督，才是一切問題的解答。聖經說：機會是神所給的。經上說：

我曾給他悔改的機會、他卻不肯悔改他的淫行。（啟 2：21)

這段經文可以看見，機會是神所給的。當神給人機會時，人就該好好把握；神也可以將機會收去，這時，人無論再如何地努力，必定不會成功。機會當然是留給努力的人，但努力的人，也不能沒有機會。這樣，我們該怎麼行？經上又說：

我們曉得萬事都互相效力、叫愛神的人得益處、就是按他旨意被召的人。（羅 8：28）

「萬事都互相效力」，就是萬事之間互相交互作用都是已經被設定好了的，也就是在神的旨意中早就被定好的，如同電腦程式一樣，只要正確執行，就有正確的結果。「叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人」，也就是用對正確的執行方法，那就是成為愛神的人。努力成為愛神的人，就是信仰的真正核心問題，也是解決一切人生問題的關鍵。

還在窮忙嗎？藉由親近神，依靠聖靈禱告，讓聖經神的話跟你說話吧！為主轉念，我們才能自錯誤的努力方向轉回，轉向光明。

凡較力爭勝的、諸事都有節制．他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕．我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。所以我奔跑、不像無定向的．我鬥拳、不像打空氣的。（林前 9：25-26）

By Isaiah Kao

Turn Your Mind for the Lord, Turn Toward the Light

(Ecclesiastes 9)

“I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NASB 2020)

This passage points out a reality that people least want to accept: “time and chance.” The meaning of “time and chance overtake them all” is that opportunity seems to dominate everything. Even the positive qualities mentioned earlier, "the swift", "the strong in battle", "the wise", "the discerning", and "the skillful", when compared with opportunity, are all overruled and surpassed by it.

If one reads 

Ecclesiastes without the support of the rest of Scripture, it is easy to fall into pessimism: “What is the use of all this effort? Is it not all vanity of vanities?” But in fact, Ecclesiastes is teaching us the wisdom of “turning our mind.” That is, we should not be like people in the world who rush forward blindly like headless flies, making efforts that have no true meaning. This chapter repeatedly mentions death, reminding us that all human hope, once it encounters death, is also ruled by it—because no one can overcome death.

What, then, is "the wisdom of turning our mind"? It is to enter into Christ and, through the Holy Spirit of truth, receive Him as our Helper. He becomes the guide of our life, teaching us to hold a correct view of life and leading us in the right direction. For when we look at the whole Bible, the truth tells us: "the problems we face in life are often not the problems themselves, but our faith".

To turn our mind is to see the truth. We must ask: Who holds opportunity? Then we should seek the source of opportunity. Who holds death? Then we should seek the true God who governs both death and life. Jesus Christ is the answer to all things. The Bible says that opportunity is given by God:

“I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:21, NASB 2020)

From this verse we see that opportunity is given by God. When God gives a person opportunity, he should seize it well. God can also take opportunity away; at that time, no matter how much a person strives, he will not succeed. Opportunity is indeed for those who are diligent, but even the diligent cannot do without opportunity.

So how should we live? The Scripture also says:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ( Romans 8:28 NASB )

“All things work together,” means that everything interacts with one another according to what has already been set. In other words, within God’s will, all has long been determined, just like a computer program, when it runs correctly, it produces the correct result. “To those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” means using the right way of execution—that is, becoming a person who loves God. Striving to become one who loves God is the true core of faith, and also the key to solving all the problems of life.

Are you still busy in vain? Draw near to God, rely on the Holy Spirit in prayer, and let the Word of God in the Bible speak to you. Turn your thoughts for the Lord, only then can we turn back from wrong directions of effort and move toward the light.

“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” (1 Corinthians 9:25–26, NASB 2020)