Doors Of Opportunity
Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain, and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. See how your brothers fare and bring back news of them” (1 Samuel 17:17-18).
When we think of David, we remember the killing of Goliath, honoring his friendship with Jonathan, running from Saul, and uniting the kingdom. We also remember some of his less stellar moments, such as committing adultery and murder. But we often forget how it all got started. David’s childhood was not particularly happy. Because he was the youngest, David was often overlooked by his parents, who gave preference to his older brothers. Today, we might recommend that David get into therapy, but God had another way to build confidence in the young man.
David’s brothers were soldiers in Saul’s army, fighting the Philistines. David’s dad told him to take special food to his brothers and their captain and to bring back news about his beloved sons. When he arrived at the camp David saw that the entire army cowered in fear of the Philistine giant. David took the opportunity to offer his services to Saul (in spite of the taunt of his brothers) and won one of the greatest victories of personal bravery in military history.
The door of opportunity swung open in an unlikely way. Though David had often been forgotten at home, God used the circumstances to open a wide door of opportunity for David to excel. David didn’t wallow in self-pity. He marched through the door God opened for him. His life and the lives of all Israel were radically changed that day.
One has said, “An opportunity lost is an opportunity gone forever." How true spiritually. Opportunity is all we have to get a foot hold with one soul. Without opportunity we will never have the chance to teach some soul the truth. We'll never be able to bear another burden, to help support the feeble minded. An opportunity is truly a golden possession. We must not waste it, nor abuse it.
We are taught by God what to look for, and how to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way (Gal. 6:10). An opportunity is an occasion or opening for doing a commendable deed. It’s a suitable circumstance which stands before one like an open door.
The Christian who is aggressive about sharing his faith with others, and who loves the souls of others, will find opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed by brethren who lack zeal, desire, and determination. Opportunities must be seized when they come, since they cannot be recalled once they are gone.
Life consists of a long series of opportunities for serving God. “Today they are here. Tomorrow they are gone.” (Irvin Himmel)
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