OPPORTUNITIES The word "opportunity" is found 5 times in our Bibles. The Greek word is "eukairia" which means "a fit season". Webster says, "a favorable juncture of circumstances." "a good chance of progress".
1. Matthew 26: 16 which after Judas sold the Lord for 30 pieces of silver, "And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him."
2. Luke 22:6 concerning this same event states "And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude." People can seek opportunities to do wrong. James 1:13-15 shows that a person does evil because he desires to do evil. Judas was responsible for his own sin in betraying Christ. He already was guilty of wrong doing as seen from John 12:6.
3. Hebrews 11: 15, 16 - "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Abraham and his family could have given up doing God's commands and returned to their former lives in Ur of the Chaldees but they did not use that opportunity. They did not receive the promised land in their lives but they continued to believe it would be given. They knew they would die, so they turned their attention to the promise of a Heavenly country, so God was not ashamed to be called their God. He prepared heaven for them. What an example to us! Jesus went to prepare a place in heaven for us. We must walk in the way he has prepared, accept the truth that he is and has said, and be made alive spiritually to go to that place (John 14:1-6). Don't go back to old ways of life that will negate all the promises the Lord gives.
4. Philippians 4: 10 - "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." The Philippians wanted to help with Paul's expenses as he was a prisoner in a hired house in Rome, so they got together a gift and sent it by Epaphroditus (Philippians 4: 18). Paul called this "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." They would have done this before, but they lacked opportunity. Their lack of opportunity caused them to seek it and to go through any doors open to them. The same should be so for us today.
5. Galatians 6: 10 - "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." This is a general command that as we have opportunity we should do good to all men. It is in the context of helping an erring brother who is overtaken in a fault to restore him (V. 1). Also the command to bear one another's budens and so fulfill the law of Christ (v.2). There is also the command for we who have been taught the word to help the teachers of the word who are dedicating their lives to do so (Vs. 6). It is directly connected to the great truth that we reap what we sow (V.7).
In application of the command that as we have opportunity we should do good to all men let us realize that there are 400 million people in these United States and we are growing at a tremendous rate every year. Wealth, literacy, travel, communication, opportunities of advancement, pleasures, recreation, are here as never before. Sins of drunkenness, drug addiction, crimes, hate, wickedness, gangsterism, racial prejudice, turmoil, broken homes, are also at an all time high. Instead of being depressed about all this we should realize that this is the most needy nation of the world for mission work. If we could just get the people of this nation turned around for God we have the money, time, and opportunity of reaching the world for Christ. Let us look at some to the opportunities that are ours in this nation.
1. Every troubled marriage and broken home. We have opportunity of helping them to see that in their depressed and troubled minds they do not have to turn to drugs, drink, or violence to try to solve their problems. They can "In nothing be anxious; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7. Also Verse 8 continues,"whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise think on these things." These verses applied to the lives of troubled people could save their homes, marriages and be a wonderful help to the children. If the marriage is broken and there seems to be no fixing it the troubled people can pick up the pieces of their individual lives and continue to live productive lives. By turning their lives to the Lord they can, like Paul, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ." (Philippians 4:13,14).
2. The one million five hundred thousand homeless children in our country. These are the ones mothers and fathers have given up due to their own lusts, addictions, and depressions. One little boy said, "my mother just got tired of being a mother to us and left us". What an opportunity Christians have to provide homes, food, shelter, clothing and an education for these children. Let's consider the children that have no homes as opportunities for the gospel. They may be dirty, stinking, rude, and have other problems but they need love, food, clothing, educational opportunities, and to be taught about Jesus.
3. The millions of people in prisons, jails, correctional institutions. There are 26,000 in Alabama prisons and 92,000 in Florida prisons. Let's help as many of those in our area that we can with a rightly divided Bible, a Biblically based plan of salvation, worship that is in spirit and in truth, and how to live right in the community.
Many more such opportunities are surrounding us with open doors. Let us do what we can to help the people who need our help. C. D.