It All Comes Down to Perspective

Whether you view something as an opportunity or not boils down to your perspective. When you look at the tasks, responsibilities, and commitments in your life, you have a choice: you can see them as things you have to do, or as things you get to do.

That distinction may seem small, but it changes everything.

A Lesson from a Colts Game

Recently, my son-in-law Tommy took me to a preseason Colts game. We had seats right over the tunnel where the team runs out — great seats. The team did run out, though they had the wrong jerseys on. It was a preseason game, after all — the first-stringers weren’t really playing.

But we had a good time. That was our perspective. We had an opportunity to use our tickets, and we made the most of it.

Meanwhile, the people sitting behind us — season ticket holders, it seemed — spent the entire game complaining. “I’m bored. I’m bored.” The whole time. And I thought: nobody said you had to be here.

Same game. Same seats. Completely different experience. It’s a matter of perspective.

They felt they had to use their tickets.

We got to use ours.

What Does It Mean to Have Opportunity as a Christian?

In Galatians 6:6–10, the Apostle Paul writes:

“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”

If you’ve been a student of the Bible and have learned from it, you have an opportunity to share what you’ve learned with others — in a spirit of love.

Paul continues:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Then he gives us the charge:

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

This passage reminds us that God is not mocked. You’re not going to get away with anything — no matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done in the past. It doesn’t matter how many Sunday school classes you used to teach, how many church buses you used to drive, or how many tracts you used to pass out. Past accomplishments don’t give you a pass today.

We will reap what we sow. So we should sow to the Spirit — walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh — and we should look for opportunities to do good.

Interruptions or Opportunities?

Here’s where it gets practical. Paul says to do good unto all men — not just fellow believers, not just those who agree with you. In Romans 12:18, the Apostle writes: “If at all possible, we should live peaceably among all men.”

But too often, when people enter our sphere — uninvited, unexpected — we see them as interruptions. Disruptions. Inconveniences. Someone we have to deal with right now.

What if we saw them differently? What if those interruptions were actually opportunities to do good for that person?

Maybe that good is simply giving someone real care and attention. Not just waiting for them to pause so you can say what you’ve already planned to say — but actually listening. Active listening is something many of us struggle with. We hear, but we don’t truly listen.

Maybe the opportunity is sharing a gospel tract. Maybe it’s inviting someone to church, a community event, a movie night, or a holiday cookout. Sometimes people who would never walk into a church building will come to something else — because this isn’t everybody’s story. Not everyone grew up in the church.

Look at those interruptions as opportunities instead of interruptions. Look for ways to give a blessing, not a burden.

The Example of Jesus

In John 17, we find what is actually the Lord’s Prayer — Jesus praying to the Father. (The prayer many call “the Lord’s Prayer” was actually Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. It includes “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” — but Jesus never trespassed against anyone. So that couldn’t have been his prayer.)

In John 17:6, Jesus prays:

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”

And in verse 20, he expands his prayer:

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”

Jesus prayed for his believers — and for all who would come to believe. We should follow that example and spend time praying for one another.

The Challenge

We can be pessimistic people. Murmurers. Complainers. We take every opportunity to make sure everyone understands how awful things are going in our lives — and then try to convince them to come to Jesus because everything’s going to be so great. It doesn’t quite add up, does it?

Instead, we should look for ways and opportunities to be a blessing to people — not to add to their burden, but to lighten it. Especially to those of the household of faith.

So here’s the challenge: Look for opportunities to be a blessing. Take the opportunities you have to pray for one another.

Change your perspective. See the interruptions. And turn them into opportunities.