Opportunity in Every Day

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Everyday opportunities. Are we missing them?

Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that make it possible to do something. Certain opportunities will depend upon your profession or position–a business owner, an employer, a teacher, a pastor, a parent, etc.–each function affords unique and differing opportunities.

There is one area of opportunity that we all have, especially those who name the name of Christ–the opportunity each day to do what is good.

One of the main tenets of Christianity is doing good to others. This is taught by Christ Himself, and throughout the New Testament. In Galatians 6:10, Pauls states, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. “ Of course, doing good does not make a person a Christian, but it is the certain fruit of a true Christian. Said another way, not everyone who is doing good is a Christian, but someone who is doing no good is certainly not one.

The 17th century Puritan and pastor Cotton Mather stated, “The opportunity to do good imposes the obligation to do it.” Unlike other opportunities of life, all of which we could never fully take advantage of, when it comes to doing good, if we are favored with the opportunity, and we have the power, it is our duty to do it. Every day I have the opportunity to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to someone in my circle of influence. Be it a child, a spouse, a parent, a co-worker, a church member, an employee, a student, opportunity awaits to act upon things such as showing love to the hurting, joy to the depressed, and peace to the anxious.

While there are many opportunities that could be mentioned, here are just three that I believe are very important and impactful:

Taking the opportunity to truly listen to someone else and be interested in their life.

My wife and I have had a number of discussions in the past on how rare it is to meet someone who is genuinely interested in learning about someone else. I am not sure if it is a phenomenon unique to our day, or if it has always been this way, but most folks do not ask questions of or show interest in another. They are often happy to answer someone else’s inquiries into their own lives, and this is not a bad thing at all, but the interest is not often returned.

Another phenomenon we are witnessing today is large amounts of people paying for a therapist. Apparently you can make good money today being a counselor, which is (in large part) a professional listener. One lady told my wife that her therapist mainly asked her questions. Are we at a point in our society that a listening ear has to be purchased?

It seems that we have lost the regular person-to-person connection that we all crave and need, even in a world that is so “connected.” Are counselors and therapists sometimes needed? Sure. Would they not be as needed if we all took time to listen and be more invested in the people around us? Quite possibly.

To take the opportunity to show someone you are interested in their life is often doing a great good for that person. This affords them the opportunity to have someone care about them and be interested in who they are as a person. And for two individuals to simultaneously show this interest in each other is an opportunity for a potentially rewarding and strengthening friendship to begin.

Taking the opportunity to encourage and bring joy to a child.

If you are blessed to have children in your life, opportunities for great good abound. Children are drawn to and heavily influenced by people whom they believe truly love them and are interested in them. Most children really do want to please the “grown ups” in their lives, and a “grown up” who brings them joy and encouragement has great opportunity to direct the entire life of that child. I believe that children often don’t look like they want to please the adults in their lives because they have come to believe that it is an impossibility. While the adults would not mean to do so, it has been demonstrated to these children time and again that they are mostly a nuisance, and they need to just quit bothering the big mature people who are doing all the important stuff.

But Jesus had something very different to teach us. He demonstrated the importance of children, the “least of these”, and welcomed them. He would not allow them to be brushed aside or seen as a bothersome irritant. And I suspect that He brought joy to children whenever He had the opportunity.

It does not take much to bring encouragement to a child. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or go on a long trip to a theme park. (Although there is nothing wrong with those things either.) If you have taken the opportunity to let a child sit on your knee and talk to you about what they are thinking, to sing with them, to play a game with them, to patiently work along side them, to wrestle on the floor with them, to tell a few good jokes with them (you may want to avoid “knock, knock” jokes, as they can go on forever…) or to pray with them before they go to sleep at night, you have taken ahold of a great opportunity. These things will follow the child all through his life.

Taking the opportunity to share with someone the reason for the hope that lies within you.

If the opportunity arises to share your faith in Jesus Christ, no greater opportunity could be taken… or missed. People need the Lord. (Have you noticed?) He is the only Way out of the present shambles of our society. Christ is the only hope because He is the only cure for the root bearing the rotten fruit—the heart of men.

Jesus Christ has set me free from sin and death. Christ has taken the punishment for my terrible sins, given me a restored relationship with my heavenly Father, and has given me purpose for life. Although I am utterly hopeless and helpless without Christ, I believe He is using me to build His Kingdom in this world. And Christ has graciously opened this invitation for forgiveness and peace and purpose to all the thirsty who will come and drink from this “water of life.”

All of us have opportunity to share this most important message of hope and love and forgiveness to those in our circle of influence. We share this gospel message with our lips and with our life. This opportunity should be always on the forefront of our minds as we mingle with people each day that we live.

While we will not all have the same opportunities afforded to us in life, we all have daily opportunities for doing good in one way or another. Each day can begin with a clean slate before the Lord, full of big opportunities in the little things of life. Instead of looking inward with constant self-introspection, let us choose to pour out our lives for the kingdom of Christ, listening to others, taking interest in a child, sharing the glorious good news of Christ, and a million other wonderful opportunities for the good of another.

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