“Make the most of every opportunity.”

I’ve heard the phrase many times in my life. I’d rephrase the way I’ve heard it in a variety of contexts to mean…

• Don’t waste time or situations. If you have a chance to do something, do it.
• If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Give it your all.
• Think of how you can use or learn from every situations. (It’ll look great on your resume!)

I found several quotes that convey the same message:

• “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison
• “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt
• “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill

Making the most of every opportunity  – the way I’ve heard most messages about opportunities – is about me. Challenging me not to miss out on something because I could benefit. Telling me it’s up to me how much I put into (and get out of) opportunities. The opportunity has to do with me. I’m the one who notices it or not. I’m the one who grabs it or not. I’m the one who benefits from it or not. The selfishness of opportunity has been pounded into my head.

But another message whispers: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6

Make the most of every opportunity is biblical. Who knew! But it’s a bit different from the messages I’ve received from others. The biblical message isn’t about me at all. It’s about my relationship with others. Sure, I have a part of it, but my part is just about obedience. It’s about tapping into God’s wisdom and guidance and reflecting him.

It’s a “season, opportune time. Not merely a succession of moments but a period of opportunity (though not necessity). It is a critical or decisive point in time; a moment of great importance and significance; a point when something is ready or favorable, a propitious moment. A period marked by distinct conditions.” (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible)

I could continue to twist making the most out of every opportunity to benefit and revolve around me, but when kept in context, it has nothing to do with me except my willingness to reflect God’s grace. And God’s grace is not selfish. Not even close. God’s grace is undeserved. It’s generous. It’s beyond what we can do or be on our own. And if I’m reflecting – extending – grace to others…if I’m making the most of every opportunity to do so, my life is void of selfishness.

In reality, my life isn’t void of selfishness, and I make the most of some opportunities for the wrong reasons, but I’m listening to God’s whisper to me and (hopefully) changing my perspective.

Will you join me?

“But God’s grace has made me what I am, and his grace to me was not wasted.” 1 Corinthians 15:10