Opportunity Knocking

 

I

n the summer of 1995, I had the wonderful privilege of being the Program Director for Camp Bud Schiele, the local scout camp for our council.  The job involved ensuring the program ran smoothly, that all the merit badge counselors and area directors had what the needed, and that all the boys from the various troops were scheduled correctly.  The position also involved working closely with the adult leaders, answering their questions, and making sure everything at the camp suited their needs and expectations. 

 

Needless to say, the job was very demanding and, try as I did, I just couldn’t please everyone all of the time.  Leaders were very quick to point out where things were lacking and when we made a mistake, we heard all about it.  There were, however, uplifting moments as well as the adult leaders called various staff members to my attention, praising them for doing a good job or for going the extra mile to work with a boy or provide some service above and beyond the call of duty. 

 

As the weeks progressed, the staff grew more and more confident, and their performance grew better and better.  Our reviews climbed ever higher and by summer’s end, our staff could be proud of the job they had done during the previous seven weeks.  That first, week, however, was a very trying time and one adult leader, in particular, made sure we took advantage of every opportunity to improve our service. 

 

Dan was the scoutmaster for one of the troops visiting the camp during the first week.  He assured me he enjoyed the first week and wasn’t surprised at some of the obstacles he encountered as we gained our seal legs.  Every time I saw Dan he would say, “Blake, I have an opportunity for you!”  What Dan meant by opportunity was usually some major glitch in the system that needed to be addressed right away.  He was always jovial in his approach and very relaxed in his mannerisms and it was a pleasure to serve him.  However, I must say that by mid-week, I was looking for places to hide from Dan.  Every time I saw him, he had something else for me to do, another opportunity for me to render service.  I really grew tired of so many opportunities! 

 

Perhaps this sounds familiar to you today.  If your job involves service, and what job doesn’t to some extent, you know exactly what I mean by the foregoing example.  There are always opportunities to serve, whether we want them or not.  Someone always needs help, some project always needs doing, and something always requires attention or looking after.  We go through life never noticing these things until they become an opportunity for us to serve.  At that point, we have a choice to make.  Either we step up to the plate and accept the opportunity willingly, we grudgingly agree to do it although we’d prefer a root canal, or we flatly refuse to help in the situation.   

 

We all face these three decisions, and we all fall into one of these three camps. In his letter to the churches in Galatia, however, the Apostle Paul urged his readers to accept every opportunity they had to serve.  Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” 

 

In this passage Paul wants his readers—that includes us—to understand that opportunities to serve Jesus present themselves every day and more than once.  We are to take every opportunity to serve those around us and do good to them, especially those who are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  This means even when we are tired, frustrated, and overwhelmed with life, we are still to take every opportunity to serve others because this is what Jesus commanded when he told his disciples to follow his example of washing feet.  As we take advantage of every opportunity to serve others, even when we aren’t particularly in the mood, we also give others the opportunity to serve us as the Holy Spirit directs them.  Service is the most visible indicator that we belong to Christ.  Do you hear opportunity knocking today?