Proverbs 10:5(KJV)
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Opportunities are times when good things can happen. It’s a window of possibility and potential that opens to us. Opportunity comes and goes, and depending on how we respond to it, our life and destiny can change, and the future of others can be affected. It is clear from the above Scripture that the wise are sensitive to the season around them. The Scripture helps us understand our role on this earth is to work the land to produce a harvest. Opportunity is a blessing, a gift from God. God is an opportunity-giving God. He daily gives us moments pregnant with possibility and potential. To make the most of God-sent opportunities, we must first recognize them when they manifest. Wise men spot an opportunity and eagerly seize it, driven by the potential for exceptional benefit or advantage. When wise men see an opportunity, they aggressively and diligently exploit it for profit and honor, while the foolish men miss it or squander it to their poverty and shame. Too often, we’re so preoccupied with the business and busyness of life that we don’t see them when they come our way. Because of our blindness, great opportunities bypass us.
For every opportunity, time is of the essence. As definitely as opportunities arrive, they leave. Seeing them and seizing them is our challenge. Wise men diligently gathered as much as possible with extra effort and time. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Time is an essential and cherished asset of life. There is time for everything, a time to work and rest. It is vital to know that investment in time equals fulfillment of destiny. Our value for opportunity determines our worth because life is a changing scene of prosperity and difficulty. When opportunity passes and is unutilized with profitable activity, life wastes for the loss of opportunity are irredeemable in this life. So, when times are good, we gather all we can and save some for the hard times. Proverbs 30:25 says, “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” Though ants are the weakest creatures, they use wisdom to preserve and protect themselves. In other words, they prosper by prudence, working diligently in the summer to accumulate as much food as possible.
Beloved, be wise and prepared for your opportunities. Being ready when an opportunity arises is one secret to success in life. Live a life of urgency, for urgency, affects destiny. Make good use of your time and avoid the spell of time wastage by ensuring that there is always a vision in front of you. Maximize your life by doing the right thing with your time. Get focused, get organized, and set your goals. Seizing God-sent opportunities involves faith and action. See every opportunity, be prepared for it, and capitalize on it. Exploit the ones God gives you; even ants know to work hard and save in the summer. You must override your inner desire for comfort and complacency and suppress your drive for the status quo. Don’t lose your hour of opportunities in this life by closing the open door on yourself. Never presume it will always be there. Today, reach out, step out, speak out, and act out your faith and love in the opportune moments God gives you. It’s time to step up and be all God has called you to be. Be ten times more diligent and see what God does with your life. You will be amazed at your harvest. Remember, it is a tragedy to waste your time and a shame to see a young man or woman sleep away his or her hour of opportunity.
O LORD, help me not to waste my hour of opportunity. Give me the strength to utilize my time on earth in Jesus’ Name.