Opportunities Improved
Good opportunities are God’s seasons for doing the work; wherefore, watch for them and take them as they come. Paul tells us, he was “in watchings often;” surely it was that he might take the season that God should give him to do his work for him; as he also says to Timothy, “Watch thou in all things, do the work,” etc.
Opportunities as to some things come but once in one’s lifetime, as in the case of Esther, and of Nicodemus and holy Joseph; when Esther begged the lives of the Jews, and the other the body of Jesus; which had they once let slip or neglected, they could not have recovered it again for ever. Watch, then, for the opportunity:
Because it is God’s season, which without doubt is the best season and time for every purpose.
Because Satan watches to spoil, by mistiming as well as by corrupting whatever thou shalt do for God. “When I would do good,” says Paul, “evil is present;” that is, either to withdraw me from my purpose, or else to infect my work.
That the opportunity may not slip thee, either for want of care or forecast,
1. Sit always loose from an overmuch affecting thine own concernments, and believe that thou wast not born for thyself: a brother is born for adversity.
2. Get thy heart tenderly affected with the welfare of all things that bear the stamp and image of God.
3. Study thy own place and capacity that God hath put thee in in this world; for suitable to thy place are thy work and opportunities.
4. Make provision beforehand, that when things present themselves, thou mayst come up to a good performance: be prepared for every good work.
5. Take heed of carnal reasonings; keep the heart tender, but set thy face like a flint for God.
6. And look well to the manner of every duty.