Today’s Scripture: Matthew 25:24-25
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
Two shoe salesmen arrived on an island. The first one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes. He thought, “Why would they send me here? There’s no market for shoes here!” The second one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes, and thought, “Wow! Everybody needs shoes – and the whole market is mine.”
Two salesmen. Same circumstances. Different attitudes. Different results. The world as we know it is strewn with opportunities. Even in the worst of conditions, there are opportunities to make a difference in our lives and for others. But it takes the right attitude to see and to seize it. The master in Jesus’ parable handed out different talents to three servants. The talents, little as they seemed, held great opportunities for increase. Two servants saw an opportunity for multiplication, applied themselves accordingly, and got great results. The other servant who could only see how little his talent was, folded his arms in bitterness, and lost even that which he had.
Today, the global economy has serious problems. The political situation, in almost every part of the world, is less than ideal. But in spite of all these obvious challenges, opportunities abound, and we can see and seize them with the right attitude. Remember, an attitude is a way of thinking and feeling that affects our behaviour. If you think everything is failing and falling, you will act like everything is failing and falling, and you will fail and fall eventually. But if you think that in every situation, no matter how dire, there is a silver lining, you will find and seize the opportunities inherent in every facet of your life.
The truth is, at every moment in time there are opportunities to go from good to better, and opportunities to go from seemingly bad to good. After all, the Bible did say all things are working together for your good (Romans 8:28). So why not step back from the negative situations of your life today (lack, sickness, poverty, failure, hopelessness etc.) and take a second look at your circumstances?
Ask yourself what opportunities they present; opportunities to grow in character, establish a new business, advance your career, help another, or to save a soul? Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see. Make this a habit, and you will leave a trail of mined opportunities on your path. I believe the Lord will help you in this regard. You will go from glory to glory. Each episode in your life will provide platforms for ascending into God’s ordained plan for your life. You will see and seize opportunities everywhere you find yourself, because you will go through life with a positive attitude, in Jesus’ name.
Memorise & Meditate:
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Prayer & Confession:
Open my eyes, Lord, to see the opportunities that abound around me. I refuse to allow a negative attitude keep me in a position of lack, bitterness and anger. I choose a positive attitude. I will see and seize opportunities, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
