In the 60's folk singing group "The Mamas and the Papas" there were two men and two women. One was thin, pretty and blonde. One was heavyset and somewhat homely. The larger girl had enormous talent and a wonderful and powerful voice. The pretty girl had not much of a voice at all. Who got the publicity and the men of her choice? Of course it was the pretty one. I imagine it had to be really difficult for Cass Elliott (who hated to be called "Mama" Cass) to be in the shadow of Michelle Phillips purely on the basis of looks alone. As time went on, Cass died prematurely.
That's the way it goes in our world today. If someone gives a good appearance, they will get the first shot at opportunities. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, "I have seeen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all." I will not attemp to exegete this passage, but there is a simple message for us all.
If you place your life's importance on earthly achievement, it will not necessarily go the way you think it should. Your opportunity may very likely be given to someone who has not worked nearly as hard as you have simply because the other person has been gifted in ways that are purely an accident of birth. If you place all your self worth on these situations, you will be crushed and bitter and your life will be miserable. Remember that God looks on the heart. Place your trust in him and you will always get much more than you deserve.
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