Opportunities
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Read: Gal 6:10
Read: Gal 6:10
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
As I read this verse I am immediately struck by the word “opportunity:”
Merriam-Webster.com defines opportunity as “a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place.”
Stephen Covey writes: “The root of opportunity is port, meaning the entryway by water into a city or place of business. In earlier days, when the tide and winds were right and the port opened, it allowed entry to do commerce, to visit, or to invade and conquer. But only those who recognized the opening could take advantage of the open port, or opportunity.”
Taken from Stephen R. Covey “Foreword,” in Kevin Hall, Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words (New York: William Morrow, 2009), xii.
Thomas Edison once quipped, “Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
So Paul is attempting to get us to see the importance of looking for opportunities.
Opportunity is a time word
The word is connected to another time word found in Gal 6:9 “9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Opportunities of doing good unto all men
Many times I have read the first part of this section about sowing and reaping and often wondered what is sowing?
Right there under my nose (as my Dad used to say) is what sowing is.
SO often we think it is some great big evangelisic endeavor, or campaign and we need those
or knocking on doors and inviting people
or some other “Noteworthy” thing
Paul says if you want to Sow to the Spirit and reap a spiritual harvest here is what you do
Gal 6:10 “10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions January 15: When Opportunity Knocks
The Bible also talks about opportunities, but with a difference. While the world looks for opportunities for success, the Christian looks for opportunities for servanthood.
As we have therefore opportunity
Now unfortunately the KJV makes it sound like - “do good when it is convenient”
This isn’t at all what Paul is saying - that word “opportunity” is a time word as I mentioned earlier - and it expresses the idea of looking for times to do good.
Some are better at this than others - some see needs and times to do good better than others - that has to do with personality
But there is a time to do good to all men and its sowing, putting out the seed
You may never see them come to Christ - but I promise you the one who Sees all took note
That is why the encouragement is given - “Be not weary in well doing”
I’m thankful this past week for those who saw an opportunity to do good especially to those of the household of faith and brought their Pastor and family meals. My how blessed we are and were for your hospitality.
And God sees that and you planted more seed in your heavenly garden. When harvest time comes - you will be rewarded.
If we look we will be overwhelmed by the amount of opportunities out there
Zig Ziglar tells the story of boy that went with his mother to the old general store. He liked to sneak away from his mother and when no one was looking he would dip his finger into the large barrel of molasses. The storekeeper caught him doing this and decided to teach the boy a lesson. He picked up the boy by his britches and dunked him head first into the barrel of molasses and then set him out on the front porch of the store. But instead of crying the boy was out there praying, “God, give me the tongue to equal this opportunity.” (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author). Copyright © 2022 Family Times
In saying all of this I am doing more preaching that praying -
LORD help my eyes be attentive to needs of others and not so focused on what I have to get done.
When we get to heaven rewards are not going to be handed out by how many “TO DO LISTS” we got through - but rather how much Spiritual Sowing did we get done.