Seizing Opportunity (Phil 4:10)

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it - Philippians 4:10

In the context of this verse Paul is thanking the Philippian church for the gift they delivered to him (see verse 18). He mentions that they had been eager to support him in the past, but for whatever reason they had no opportunity to put that eagerness into action until now.

The spiritual principle here for us to extract and apply is the ability to recognize and seize opportunities when they arise.

Just because we have belief in God does not mean that we are necessarily investing that belief profitably.

A seed may be perfectly healthy, but if it is not planted in soil, it cannot produce any fruit. Similarly, we may have a faith that can move mountains, but the mountain will not move if there is no opportunity to enact and demonstrate that faith.

We must always be ready to seize opportunities to put our faith into action.

And we need especially to take advantage of those moments when the circumstance demands our deepest faith - these are the moments of greatest spiritual ROI.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

when you encounter trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Allow perseverance to finish its work,

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4