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Lost and Found Opportunities

In First Samuel chapter nine, you will read about Saul, who was to become the first king of Israel. Starting at verse three we read,

And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us. And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go. Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
(1 Samuel 9:3-7)

In the end, Saul and his servant met the prophet Samuel in the city as he was going up to the high place. The Lord had already told Samuel that Saul was coming, and then He revealed to Samuel that Saul was the one.

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day: and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee, and for all thy father’s house? And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner? And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons.
(1 Samuel 9:18-22)

God used the opportunity for Saul to come to Samuel when his asses got lost, and he went to find them. The whole purpose for this was for Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel.

Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that Jehovah hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance?
(1 Samuel 10:1)

God used the this opportunity so that Saul would be anointed king of Israel. Through just a small incident, the loss of Kish’s asses, God brought Saul to become king of Israel. The asses were found by someone, as Samuel told Saul,

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee, and for all thy father’s house?
(1 Samuel 9:20)

Every day we are faced with opportunities. Sometimes we will have an opportunity to ask someone who is lost for a Bible study. Sometimes there are opportunities for doing good for someone.
When we have an opportunity like this, we need to take advantage of it. We should not lose it. Galatians 6:10 says,

So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
(Galatians 6:10)

Some Christians might just sit back and wait for an opportunity to come along, and then take it when it comes. However, we should always be looking for opportunities, and we should not let them pass by and be lost. When you see a chance to ask someone if they will study the Word with you, take the opportunity! It could lead to another soul obeying the Gospel. When we see someone for whom we can do something good, we should take advantage of that opportunity.
In Philippians chapter four, Paul wrote about the Philippians, and how they saw an opportunity to help Paul:

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.
(Philippians 4:10)

We should always look for and find opportunities, and not let them get by and be lost. We should look for opportunities to teach the Gospel to the lost:

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.
(1 Corinthians 9:16)

We should also look for opportunities to do good to others, especially to fellow Christians:

So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
(Galatians 6:10)

One thought to “Lost and Found Opportunities”

  1. I was blessed by this post. Thehardest thing to do as Christian women is to wait on the LORD to make us what He deierss us to be. Lookingback over the 19 years since God saved me by grace, I can honestly say, THANK GOD He did not allow me to do things in my own time and in my own way,

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