The sermon that I want to preach to you today will be on “Making the most of every Opportunity.” I remember someone tell me about the Japanese culture of eating, their ways of doing it will surely give an insight into how best we make use of the opportunity. When they sit around the table, they will have all varieties of dishes placed on the rotating platter and as it comes to you, you need to fill your plates and then rotate the platter again; if you miss it then probably you may not get that dish again. This is such a simple illustration but would tell us more for life, if you miss a chance you miss it – you may not get another. I want to bring you three perspectives concerning the idea of making the best of the opportunity with the life of Rebekah as we read in Genesis 24, and I also want to bring you few reasons as to why we miss these opportunities. But let’s read the key scripture in Ephesians 5:15-17
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Having read the scripture let me bring these three perspectives: even before giving you the three perspectives it would be good if we could read Genesis 24 and understand the event so the points that I drive to your minds will be well established. (Genesis 24: 1- 61)
1. Be very careful because the days are evil:
I am sure you are aware of the incident where the servant of Abraham went on a mission of finding a partner for Isaac. This servant after promising Abraham made a very specific prayer that the girl who gives him water must also be willing to give water for the camels. The servant’s specific prayer was answered. He sat down at the place where there was well and the girl Rebekah goes there to fetch water for her home now when she sees the stranger asking for water she lowered her jar and gave him a drink and also offered to fetch water for the camels. Rebekah was not sure of what the consequence would be but she had the virtues of doing good described in the Bible. She could have ignored the stranger or she could have asked him to take help from somebody but Rebekah immediately began helping as we read in proverbs 3:28, when help is at hand she did not want to postpone, but the best part was she was even willing to water the camels. In today’s context people would have called her OE that is over enthusiastic or even ‘nut.’ None of these mattered to her because she knew the traveler was on a long journey and therefore the camels needed the stamina to continue.
Well let me pause a while and give some interesting information about the camels that would add more punch to what I am sharing. In general a camel can go without water for 17 days and the animal would easily consume about 104 liters at one go. Genesis 24:10 says the servant took with him 10 camels – then you can imagine the hard labor of watering the camels for Rebekah. But she knew if she misses this chance she will never have another to help someone therefore she did with such initiatives and enthusiasm. She was very careful in doing good cause she is aware that the days are evil.
2. Be wise – never be foolish:
Rebekah’s act of kindness brought her some immediate favors, the servant of Abraham gave her a nose ring that weighed half a beka that is 5.5grams, (well in the Indian scene a gold gift is something sought after and very precious – it could easily fetch a sum of 6000 Indian rupees). Not only that as he prayed the girl promised to water the camels also so he also gave her two bracelets weighing 10 shekels. Little did Rebekah know that if she waters the camel she will go home with golden jewelry…but the best part was she wanted to be wise in making use of the chance she even invited the servant to come home and stay with them. Another important aspect to be noted is she ran home and told everything to the family members (Genesis 24:28), these days most of the kids hide everything from their parents whether good or bad, but Rebekah was exceptional. Laban the brother of Rebekah came and greeted them and got them to the place where they could eat. But Abraham’s servant refused, he said he will not until he shares the purpose of his visit and explained everything and was asking Rebekah for his master’s son Isaac. Here the opportunity was well used.
3. Be understanding about what the Lord’s will is:
Another very interesting fact is – the family members were happy about the proposal and they decided that their daughter can become Isaac’s wife. The servant of Abraham wanted the girl to go with him immediately but there was a refusal from the family the mother and brother were feeling nostalgic about it and they wanted her to stay home another 10 days. Then they decided that they could ask the girl concerned and Rebekah’s response was she wanted to go with them. (Genesis 24:57) I am simply assuming this way if she had to stay 10 more days home – I am sure there must have been confusion and questions and the family would not even have agreed to the proposal, because procrastination is not a healthy idea. Rebekah was clear she knew the Lord was leading her. If they would have to inquire the details of the birth of Isaac I am really scared they would have had a tough time cause he was born to the father when he was 100 and mother a lady who attained menopause, probably this would have led them even to think will Isaac also have similar problem in producing the offspring. Luckily they had no room for such talk because Rebekah decided on going early; rather it made the brother bless her we read in verse 59 and 60. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies."
Thus Rebekah certainly used the opportunity – as said let me just give the reasons for not using the opportunity, but probably preach another sermon on the points that I would list down, the reasons are:
1. Laziness, if opportunity is taken it has to be worked out, so most people dread this work and rather stay aloof.
2. Fear of failure – most people are afraid of failing even before beginning to do something.
3. Frightened about taking risk – many do not want to take a bold venture, they are often time in their comfort zone and dread to leave that.
4. Procrastination – some people will take up the opportunity but will postpone, this is another dreadful condition. Procrastination – one of these days is none of these days.
5. Dislike about the opportunity – some of them do not like the chance they get, since they are quite choosy.
Well to conclude let me share a true incident: Some years ago an energetic young man began as a clerk in a hardware store. Like many old- time hardware stores, the inventory included thousands of dollars’ worth of items that were obsolete or seldom called for by customers. The young man was smart enough to know that no thriving business could carry such an inventory and still show a healthy profit. He proposed a sale to get rid of the stuff. The owner was reluctant but finally agreed to let him set up a table in the middle of the store and try to sell off a few of the oldest items. Every product was priced at ten cents. The sale was a success and the young fellow got permission to run a second sale. It, too, went over just as well as the first. This gave the young clerk an idea. Why not open a store that would sell only nickel and dime items? He could run the store and his boss could supply the capital.
The young man’s boss was not enthusiastic. "The plan will never work," he said, "because you can’t find enough items to sell at a nickel and a dime." The young man was disappointed but eventually went ahead on his own and made a fortune out of the idea. His name was F.W. Woolworth.
Years later his old boss lamented, "As near as I can figure it, every word I used in turning Woolworth down has cost me about a million dollars!"
Make sure you use every opportunity and be very careful, be wise, and most of all understand what is the Lord’s will for you as how Rebekah used it and became a blessing. Live God Aloud. God bless you. Amen
