Opportunity

Opportunity

Opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. We should never take opportunities for granted. No one else will have exactly the same opportunities you have. And, many opportunities you have today you might not have a year from now.

The apostle Paul was always taking advantage of opportunities. When Paul was in Athens (Acts 17), the Epicureans and Stoics took him up to the Areopagus to hear what “strange doctrines” he was teaching. Despite the obvious penchant of the city toward idolatry, Paul took the opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He even used an inscription he had seen in the city as an opportune starting point -- To the Unknown God. Although most of those who heard him that day dismissed and mocked his message, some believed.

When Paul was arrested in the Temple (Acts 21-22) and questioned by the commander of the barracks, he saw an opportunity. The men of Jerusalem had filled the temple and, although they were in a violent mood, Paul asked permission to speak to them. He was granted permission and, speaking in Hebrew, he quieted the crowd and gave his defense. It does not sound like he made any converts that day, but they heard his testimony.

Paul’s arrest led to opportunities he might otherwise never have had. He spoke to the governor, Felix, about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25). He presented his case before Agrippa and Festus, pleading with Agrippa, “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice...King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Had Paul not been arrested, he might never have had an audience like this. Agrippa heard the Gospel and was challenged to accept it.

Once in Rome, Paul had an opportunity to speak to the Jews in Rome. Further, we see in some of his epistles that his imprisonment led to the conversion of some “of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). In Philippians chapter 1, he mentions that the cause of his imprisonment (preaching Christ) was known to the whole Praetorian Guard. It is interesting that such a thoroughly Roman and powerful body would take any notice of Paul’s struggles. But we need to remember that Paul lived with (and was likely chained to) a Roman soldier during his imprisonment. I can only conclude that Paul took the opportunity of a “captive audience” to make sure whoever was on duty each day heard the Gospel.

Often, Paul saw opportunity in the midst of adversity. He and Silas were arrested and imprisoned in Philippi. He saw an opportunity. He was arrested and sent to Rome. He saw opportunities all along the way. When he encountered adversity, he could have had a “woe-is-me” attitude, wondering when he would ever have the perfect opportunity to spread the Gospel. Instead, Paul found opportunity in whatever circumstance he was in. He often made opportunities by removing potential stumbling blocks that could get in the way (1 Corinthians 9).

We need to be like Paul. Our eyes need to be open to the opportunities around us. Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, we need to take advantage of whatever opportunities present themselves. What opportunities do you have to do good, to encourage a brother, to speak of your faith, or to give to those in need? The opportunities are there if we will look for them.

-  Pat Gaughan

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Zig’s Wisdom

In 2009 my wife and I had an opportunity to hear famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar in person.  He was having some short-term memory problems, and his daughter Julie had to join him on stage to keep him on topic.  In spite of that, his homespun humor was a delight to listen to.  He continued to speak at seminars until retiring in 2010 and then died two years later at age 86.  He was famous for many of his pithy maxims, such as:

There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.

Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking tartar sauce with you.

F-E-A-R has two meanings: “Forget Everything And Run” or
“Face Everything And Rise.”  The choice is yours.

Failure is an event, not a person.

Success occurs when preparation meets opportunity.

Zig may have based that last one on a statement by Roman philosopher Seneca, who said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

-  Leonard White

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The most certain way to succeed is always to try
just one more time.  -  Thomas A. Edison

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