OPPORTUNITY by Asa Bullard

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1880

OPPORTUNITY.

By Asa Bullard

SOME one says, "Opportunity is the cream of time." And some one also says, "To improve the golden moments of opportunity and catch the good that is within our reach is the great art of life."

These are wise sayings, that all will do well to consider. Every disciple of Christ should watch for opportunities of doing good, as well as improve those that readily present themselves. If wise, he will make more than he finds. "If we observe the providences," it is said, "we shall have providences to observe;" and if we improve opportunities and watch for them, and strive to make them, we shall find opportunities on every hand to improve.

No one should wait for an opportunity of doing some great thing—accomplish some great good, while he lets slip many an opportunity of doing little things. He should not forget the widow's offering, or the cup of cold water. The adage says, "Many littles make a mickle," also "Little strokes fell great oaks."

If a disciple sees no opportunity just now, to speak a word that will be "in season" to those with whom he is connected, on religious themes, he may show such an interest in their worldly concerns as will disarm and prepare them to receive his words of exhortation when the fitting occasion presents itself. If the teacher finds not the golden moment of opportunity to-day, for a special address to the heart and conscience of his class or an individual scholar, he should not neglect the favored moment to speak a word that may improve his mind, or his manners and general conduct at home and among his associates. Such a word may win their confidence and fit them for more serious instruction on another occasion; it may prove a word that shall help to shape their whole future life. Even a casual word, by the way, at home or among strangers, "fitly spoken, how good it is!"

But there is another view of this subject. A proverb says, "Opportunity makes the thief." The Italians say, "Where a chest lies open, a righteous man may sin;" and the Spaniards have a similar saying, "The open door tempts the saint." And a quaint divine says, "With opportunity at one hand and Satan at the other and the grace of God removed, who would not be tempted?" Now if opportunity for doing wrong may be so fascinating, even to the righteous, how earnest should every one be to break the charm by finding and making opportunities for doing right. May not such opportunities possess equal power of fascination? Instead of wasting time in vain regrets over the neglect of opportunities or other mistakes in the past, as many do, would not the time be better employed in efforts to prevent occasion for all soul regrets in the future?

Let no one repress any desire of doing good, from a vain fear of what may be the results. Duty is ours, results we must leave with Him whom we serve. Opportunities for charitable labors of all kinds, no one can fail to see. They were never more numerous or urgent. Give, Give, almost like prayer, is the Christian's daily breath:

"The sun gives ever; so the earth What it can give, so much 'tis worth: The ocean gives in many ways, Gives paths, gives fishes, rivers, bays; "So, too, the air, it gives us breath; When it stops giving, in comes death; Give, give, be always giving; Who gives not, is not living. The more you give, The more you live. "God's love hath in us wealth unheaped; Only by giving, it is reaped; The body withers, and the mind, If pent in by a selfish rind. Give strength, give thought, give deeds, give pelf. "Give, give, be always giving; Who gives not, is not living. The more we give, The more we live."

—Rev. Asa Bullard, in Advance.