OceanSide church of Christ
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LOST
OPPORTUNITIES
Victor M. Eskew
One of the definitions that Webster gives of “opportunity” is “a good
chance for advancement or progress.”
With regard to the church at
There are numerous Bible examples of people who failed to take advantage
of the opportunities they were given.
One such person was
Another example of a lost opportunity is recorded in Matthew 19. A young man approached Jesus with a very
important question. “Good Master,
what good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?” (Matt.
19:16). Jesus listed a number of
commandments required by God. “The
young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be
perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me” (Matt. 19:20-21). It was
at this point the young man failed to take advantage of the opportunity given to
him, an opportunity to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. “But when the young man heard that
saying, he went away sorrowful: for
he had great possessions” (Matt. 19:22).
A final example for this lesson is seen in a man named Judas
Iscariot. Judas was among the
twelve men chosen to be apostles of Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:1-4). For 3-1/2 years he sat at Jesus’
feet. He witnessed the wonders and
signs done by the Son of God. He
was poised to assist in taking the gospel to the lost throughout the world. He may have been numbered with those who
gave their lives for the cause of Christ.
Judas, however, had a weakness.
Covetousness ate away at his heart.
For thirty pieces of silver, he betrayed his Lord. His heart hurt when his plans did not go
as he had hoped. When Jesus was
condemned, Judas returned the coins and went out and hanged himself (Matt.
27:3-5). In Acts 1, Peter is seen
standing before the disciples speaking to them about Judas. In verse 17, he says: “For he was numbered with us, and had
obtained part of this ministry.”
Peter, here, speaks of the opportunity given to Judas to be an ambassador
of Christ. Judas lost his
opportunity. In Acts 1:25, Peter
asserted that Judas “by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
place.”
Each of these examples brings sadness and hurt to our hearts. A woman lost her life. A young man did not follow Jesus. Judas lost his position among the
apostles. Each person had
opportunity staring him/her in the face, but lost the opportunity given to
him. Some within the church are
much like these Bible examples.
They have the opportunity given to them to strengthen their home through
Bible classes provided by the church, but they will not come. They have opportunities in worship to
show God how much they love and appreciate His goodness toward them, but they do
not attend. They have opportunities
to show their love for their brethren within the visitation program, but they
are not a part. They have
opportunities to learn and grow in seminars and gospel meetings, but they refuse
to be a part. Again, to think about
the opportunities these individuals are missing brings sadness and hurt to our
hearts.
Failing to take advantage of opportunities is serious business. It is serious because once an
opportunity is gone it may never be presented again. If one fails to comfort a sister in
Christ who has lost her husband, that opportunity will not come again. If one is not present to hear a vital
message from the Word of God that opportunity will never come again. If one fails to see a person baptized
into Christ, he can never see that conversion again. If a person refuses to accept a position
or work within the church, it may never be offered again. Not all opportunities come two or three
times. Some opportunities are
one-time offers.
Failing to take advantage of an opportunity is also serious because it
may involve one in sin. When a
person intentionally stays home from the worship services, he is forsaking the
assembly (Heb. 10:25). When one
will not teach, or preach, or serve as an elder or deacon, he is not using the
talents that God has given him in order to prosper the Lord’s kingdom (Matt.
25:14-30). When one fails to visit,
he does not comfort, restore, rebuke, and encourage his brothers and sisters
(James 1:27; Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 12:15; I Cor. 12:25-26). Yes, there are some lost opportunities
that bring sin to the lives of those who pass them by (See Luke
10:30-37).
Within the