When you have a big pond, you would automatically desire a big fish. Similarly, when you have a big opportunity, there is no doubt that you would also need a big idea to fashion it out to sustain it.
People, throughout history, have expanded their horizon through courageous and creative endeavours, and stepped on the rungs of opportunities. David saw an opportunity in Goliath to redeem Israel from blasphemy, threats and also portray the omnipotence of God. From the adages; “Opportunity knocks but once,” and “Opportunity lost can never be regained,” one needs to determine the future by holding on to available opportunities. The secret of success is to be ready when opportunity knocks at the door. The highway of life is flecked or dotted with opportunities, and all you need is to be sensitive in order to enfold them.
The Macmillan English Dictionary defines opportunity as “a chance to do something, or a situation in which it is easy for you to do something.” This article highlights maximizing opportunities in the pursuit of success and the factors that militates against them.
In maximizing opportunities, effective use of time should be critically considered. Time is the measure of the past, present and future and the governor of the earth which outdoors available opportunities. It is a gift which is uncompromising and presents prospects. Once you live under the dictate of the sun, you will experience its effect. It is important to acknowledge the fact that there is no time for all things, but there is time for everything. So, work to achieve success within your reach. Solomon, in Ecclesiastics 3:1-2 expounded that, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.” If you are not able to maximize the planting season fully, forget about a bumper harvest. Opportunities move with time and when it is missed, you have to wait for another time. Proverbs 10:5 reiterates that, “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” Be a wise son who sows in the morning at the least opportunity and be ready for a harvest in the evening.
You can handle all opportunities because a little time lies between you and your goal. Life is a test and its points are earned by how much attention you give to available opportunities. Jesus Christ maximized every opportunity that came His way during His three-year ministry, by preaching the word and healing the sick. In Acts 17:18-23, when the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered Paul because he sought to proclaim a foreign god, they took him to the Areopagus. Paul seized that opportunity and addressed the men of Athens by saying that, “for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you.” After maximizing that greatest opportunity in his ministry at that moment, Paul won more souls, including Dionysius the Areopagite, and Damaris, to Christ.
Effective use of available opportunity is a gateway to the store house of riches and wealth. Everybody has the same amount of time in a second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year. Maximizing all the opportunities that prevail within these timeframes is a major concern for all achievers. Ecclesiastics 9:10 expounds that, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” Therefore, make maximum use of opportunities, since precision communicates your respect for time.
One of the factors that militate against maximizing opportunities is the persistent and consistent abuse of time or procrastination. People are given equal opportunities of time. The difference between the poor and the rich is how they use of time. Time is a commodity and an interesting resource. It is worthy of note that, “Time and tide wait for no man.” In order to succeed in life, you need to develop positive attitude towards effective time management and avoidance of procrastination. Some of our important choices have a timeline. If you delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. So do not leave till tomorrow what you can easily do today, because opportunity lost can never be regained and again, life is too short.
Sometimes, our doubts keep us from making choices that involve change, thereby missing an opportunity. Every blessed day is a new opportunity to succeed. Just ignore yesterday’s failures and start over again because it is not too late. Apostle Paul emphasized this in his admonition as recorded in Philippians 3:13-14 that, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We should all take note that, “A good and purposeful life is led with the end in mind.”
Another factor that restricts people from making good use of available opportunities is maintaining the status quo or being complacent. Most people who fail in life depend on the status quo that is that they prefer to remain in their comfort zone and thus forget to seize opportunities that come their way. It is interesting to note that the same boiling water that softens yam hardens an egg. It’s all about what you are made of and not your circumstances. It is disheartening to acknowledge the fact that, lost opportunities could be one of the greatest burdens that can bedevil a person with the quest of achieving greater heights. Nevertheless, when you focus on problems, you will have more problems but when you focus on possibilities, you will have more opportunities.
In conclusion, when you have strength, you have opportunities. You can change your world and turn things around. You are not late neither have you been left behind. Rather you are very much on time and on point. People who maximize opportunities always bow with pride on their success since opportunities only dance with those already on the dancing floor. It is when people rise above their expectations and seize opportunity that heights are truly reached. It is your time to arise and maximize all opportunities that come your way.
Article by Elder Samuel Danso.
