Accepting My Lot

Ecclesiastes 3:22 ESV

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Ecclesiastes 5:18–19 ESV

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

What does it mean to “accept my lot”?

heleq

“portion, share, tribal territory”

Genesis 31:14 ESV

Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house?

Accepting my lot means knowing that I don’t get everything I want.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 ESV

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Accepting my lot means knowing that my lot is not up to me.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Accepting my lot means being satisfied with whatever God gives me.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 ESV

In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.

Accepting my lot means accepting the uncertain mystery of outcomes.

Ecclesiastes 7:16–19 ESV

Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Accepting my lot means avoiding extremes and learning wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Accepting my lot means acknowledging my own failures.

Ecclesiastes 7:21–22 ESV

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Accepting my lot means worrying less about the opinions of others.

Accepting my lot means learning something from the priests of old.

Numbers 18:20 ESV

And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

Psalm 16:5 ESV

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Lamentations 3:24 ESV

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Luke 22:41–42 ESV

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Hebrews 10:32–34 ESV

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Accepting my lot means accepting my God as all I need.