Jump Start # 1295

Galatians 6:10 “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Opportunity—it often comes just now and then. A person who is sharp, aware and alert, will make the most of those opportunities. For most of us, opportunity passes, and later on we look back and sure wish we had done things differently.

I was teaching about grace yesterday in a class entitled, “Understanding Grace.” We were looking at the prodigal. There is a classic illustration of wasted opportunity. The father of the prodigal had spent a lifetime building his estate. His rebellious son demanded his share, then and now. The generous father gave it to him. There was opportunity. Imagine what good that young man could have done with that fortune. With his father still alive for advice, he could have set himself up for years to come. He could have made it possible for future generations of the family to benefit from his wise and careful planning. What an opportunity. He blew it. He didn’t think past the weekend. He spent it all. He foolishly spent it all. It was gone. What it took his father years to build, the reckless son threw away in a very short time. He came home broke, dirty, guilty and ashamed. He had nothing to show for what was given to him. He wasted a great opportunity.

In our verse today, Paul is reminding the brethren at Galatia to do good while they have opportunity. We use the expression, “strike while the iron is hot.” That is a blacksmithing term. The old blacksmith would stick a piece of iron in the fire until the iron was bright red. He’d take that to the anvil and start hammering and hammering that hot iron. It would bend and take a new shape. Back into the fire and then back on the anvil. This process would continue until the smithy had it just the way he wanted it. Then, he would douse the iron into a barrel of water, steam would shoot up into the air and the iron would cool down. At that point  the iron would no longer bend. A strong man could hammer and hammer that piece of iron, but he could not bend it once it had cooled. The expression, “strike while the iron is hot,” means to move quickly while you have opportunity. Once the iron cooled, once the opportunity passed, it’s too late.

Paul was wanting the Galatians to help others, especially, other Christians. There was a window of opportunity. First, the need is not always there. Waiting too long, and the person doesn’t need your help any more. Also, waiting too long, and you may not be in the position to help. There was a moment, an opportunity, window, a “striking while the iron was hot,” time period. Don’t waste it. Don’t let it go by.

There are many moments like that for us. Sometimes we don’t do as well with the opportunities as we ought to.

• College is such an opportunity, especially if your parents paid for it. That is huge. The number of young people finishing school with staggering student loans is unbelievable. To have school paid for, either by scholarships or parents, is a huge blessings. Many don’t see it at the moment. School is viewed as a semester long summer camp. Little attention is given to studies and too much devoted to playing around. The semester ends and the grades stink. Wasted opportunity.

• Our fellowship is such an opportunity. There is a wealth of really studious, spiritual and godly folks all around us. Some have authored great studies in God’s word. Many are doing great work everywhere they go. What an opportunity to learn from such people. Just to sit and pick their brain and have them iron out the wrinkles in your faith and answer those troubling questions is awesome. The opportunities are there, but how few take advantage of them. All over this country are godly men who are serving as shepherds in congregations. These men have the heart of a servant. Smart, humble, experienced—what a joy it is to know them and to learn from their insights. Do we do that? What a great opportunity.

• Things come up, nearly every day, which are opportunities to share the Gospel. A comment is made by a co-worker, a family member or a neighbor. That is a door cracked open for you to say something. It’s your opportunity to support and defend the Gospel message. It may come in the form of a complaint or criticism someone has about the Bible or the church. That’s a door open to set the record straight. Do it kindly, but do it. A conversation at work switches to knowing each other in Heaven. What a great opportunity to say something. You hear someone talking about how useless their church services are, that becomes an opportunity to say something about what worship is all about. All about us are opportunities. The way to share the gospel is not knocking on a strangers door, but building spiritual bridges with the people that you know. Listen. Be ready. Be thinking.

• Someone that you know has a need. That is opportunity. It may be financial. You can do something. Do you? It may be extending comfort to someone who has lost a loved one. It may be giving advice to someone. It may be nothing more than being a friend to someone. There are opportunities. Strike while the iron is hot. Later on, the financial problems may have worked out. Later on, the person is no longer interested in listening to you. Later on, the iron has cooled and it doesn’t matter what all you do, it’s too late.

We must be watchful and ready for opportunities. That means, some evenings I have to go out and spend some time with others. You do that, because the opportunity is there. That means, some Sunday afternoons, there is no time for a nap, because you must meet with someone to encourage them. Strike while the iron is hot.

While we have opportunity, Paul says. That opportunity may not always be there. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus? There was opportunity. The sick, poor Lazarus was dropped off at the rich man’s gates. The rich man was rich. He had the means to do something. He had the opportunity, right there was Lazarus. The poor man wasn’t in Africa. He was right there at the gates. He let opportunity slip by. The poor man died. Too late. The rich man died. God judged him for not doing what he could.

Opportunity. Don’t waste it. Don’t let it go by. The heart of a servant compels us to do what we can.

Roger