Definition and Concept: In the biblical context, "opportunity" refers to a favorable moment or occasion that presents itself for a particular purpose or action. It is often seen as a divinely orchestrated moment where individuals are called to act in accordance with God's will. The Bible encourages believers to recognize and seize these moments for the advancement of God's kingdom and personal spiritual growth.

Biblical References:

1. Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith." This verse emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to perform acts of kindness and service, particularly towards fellow believers. It underscores the Christian duty to be proactive in doing good whenever the chance arises.

2. Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Here, the Apostle Paul advises believers to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity. This passage highlights the urgency and importance of using time wisely in a world filled with challenges and moral decay.

3. Colossians 4:5: "Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time." This instruction calls for wisdom in interactions with non-believers, emphasizing the need to seize opportunities to witness and share the gospel. The phrase "redeeming the time" suggests a proactive approach to making the most of every moment for God's purposes.

Examples in Scripture:

· Esther: The account of Esther is a profound example of seizing opportunity. Esther, a Jewish queen in Persia, was presented with the opportunity to save her people from destruction. Mordecai, her cousin, famously reminded her, "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Esther's courage and timely action exemplify the importance of recognizing and acting upon God-given opportunities.

· Nehemiah: Nehemiah, upon hearing about the desolation of Jerusalem, seized the opportunity to request permission from King Artaxerxes to rebuild the city walls. His strategic planning and prayerful approach demonstrate how opportunities can be aligned with God's purposes when approached with faith and diligence (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

· The Parable of the Talents: In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, where servants are given different amounts of money to steward. The servants who wisely invested and multiplied their talents were commended, while the one who squandered his opportunity was rebuked. This parable illustrates the principle of being faithful with the opportunities and resources God provides.

Theological Implications:

Opportunity in the Bible is often linked with stewardship and accountability. Believers are called to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing that opportunities are not merely random occurrences but are often divinely appointed moments for action. The concept of opportunity also ties into the broader biblical themes of time, wisdom, and God's sovereignty. Christians are encouraged to trust in God's timing and to be ready to act when He opens doors for ministry, service, and personal growth.

Practical Application:

In practical terms, recognizing and seizing opportunities involves prayerful discernment, readiness to act, and a willingness to step out in faith. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a mindset that is attentive to God's leading and responsive to the needs around them. This involves being open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and being prepared to act in love and obedience when opportunities arise.1. (n.) A time or place favorable for executing a purpose; a suitable combination of conditions; suitable occasion; chance.

2. (n.) Convenience of situation; fitness.

3. (n.) Importunity; earnestness.

170. akaireomai -- to have no opportunity
... to have no opportunity. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: akaireomai Phonetic
Spelling: (ak-ahee-reh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I am without a suitable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/170.htm - 6k

2119. eukaireo -- to have opportunity
... to have opportunity. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eukaireo Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-kahee-reh'-o) Short Definition: I have a good opportunity, have ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2119.htm - 6k

2120. eukairia -- fitting time
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eukairia Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-kahee-ree'-ah) Short Definition: a convenient time, opportunity Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2120.htm - 6k

874. aphorme -- a starting point, ie fig. an occasion
... an occasion. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aphorme Phonetic Spelling:
(af-or-may') Short Definition: an occasion, opportunity Definition: (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/874.htm - 7k

2540. kairos -- time, season
... season. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kairos Phonetic Spelling:
(kahee-ros') Short Definition: fitting season, opportunity, time Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2540.htm - 7k

5117. topos -- a place
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: topos Phonetic Spelling:
(top'-os) Short Definition: a place Definition: a place, region, seat; an opportunity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5117.htm - 7k

2374. thura -- a door
... a door. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: thura Phonetic Spelling:
(thoo'-rah) Short Definition: a door, opportunity Definition: (a) a door, (b ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2374.htm - 6k

1805. exagorazo -- to buy up, ie ransom, fig. to rescue from loss
... 1805 (from 1537 , "completely " which intensifies 59 , "buy-up at the marketplace") --
properly, take of, seizing a buying-opportunity, ie making the most of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1805.htm - 7k

2816. kleronomeo -- to inherit
... assigned (alloted) by the Lord. [The believer receives their opportunity
and reward for inheritance by divine-lot (cf. Eph 1:11, Gk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2816.htm - 8k

5550. chronos -- time
... designates a fixed or special occasion; and from aion, which denotes a particular
period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5550.htm - 7k

8385b. toanah -- opportunity
... toanah. 8386 . opportunity. Transliteration: toanah Short Definition: occasion.
Word Origin from anah Definition opportunity NASB Word Usage occasion (1). ...
/hebrew/8385b.htm - 5k

8385. ta'anah -- occasion or time of copulation
... fig tree Or tonanah {to-an-aw'}; from 'anah; an opportunity or (subjectively) purpose --
occasion. see HEBREW 'anah. 8384, 8385. ta'anah. 8385a . ...
/hebrew/8385.htm - 5k

5949. alilah -- wantonness, a deed
... ee-law'}; from alal in the sense of effecting; an exploit (of God), or a performance
(of man, often in a bad sense); by implication, an opportunity -- act(-ion ...
/hebrew/5949.htm - 6k

Opportunity
... OPPORTUNITY. Have ... chance. You will never have such a good opportunity again,
and if you let it slip you may never, never catch up. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/opportunity.htm

The Lost Opportunity
... THE LOST OPPORTUNITY. TEXT: "And as thy servant was busy here and there,
he was gone. And ... The opportunity for greatness is gone. There ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/the lost opportunity.htm

A Man of Opportunity
... After the Exile Chapter 52 A Man of Opportunity. ... Four months Nehemiah waited for
a favorable opportunity to present his request to the king. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 52 a man of.htm

Opportunity: Being Thoughts for the New Year. On New Year's Eve.
... XLIII. OPPORTUNITY: BEING THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. We ...
as. A HEAVEN-SENT OPPORTUNITY? Let us make the most of it. ...
/.../champness/broken bread/xliii opportunity being thoughts for.htm

Ep. cxxvi. While Gregory was at Xantharis an Opportunity Presented ...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. CXXVI. While Gregory was at Xantharis
an opportunity presented itself for seeing Olympius? ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep cxxvi while gregory was.htm

Letter Lxii. St. Ambrose Excuses Himself for Having Omitted an ...
... Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose. Letter LXII. St. Ambrose excuses himself
for having omitted an opportunity of writing to the Emperor? St. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/letter lxii st ambrose excuses.htm

A Question Whether it Can be Without Sin that Our Knowledge ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XV. A question whether it can be without
sin that our knowledge affords to weak brethren an opportunity for lying. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xv a question whether.htm

Since it Has Been Sufficiently Shown, as Far as There Has Been ...
... Book VII. 1 Since it has been sufficiently shown, as far as there has been
opportunity? Since it has been sufficiently shown, as ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/1 since it has been.htm

It was Therefore Better for Me to Hide Myself, and to Wait for ...
... Chapter II. 35. It was therefore better for me to hide myself, and to wait
for this opportunity. Yes, I am sure that from your knowledge ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/35 it was therefore better.htm

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... CHAPTER 13. How David, When He Had Twice The Opportunity Of Killing Saul Did
Not Kill Him. Also Concerning The Death Of Samuel And Nabal. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

Opportunity (35 Occurrences)
...Opportunity (35 Occurrences). Matthew 26:16 From that time he sought opportunity
to betray him. ... (WEY). Mark 6:21 At length Herodias found her opportunity. ...
/o/opportunity.htm - 17k

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)
... named. It seemed as if Jesus wished to give Judas every opportunity, even
at this late hour, of repenting and making his confession. ...
/i/iscariot.htm - 25k

Vent (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Sale; opportunity to sell; market. ... 9. (n.) Fig.:
Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet. 10. ...
/v/vent.htm - 9k

Ossifrage (2 Occurrences)
... He does not, however, confine himself to these delicacies, but whenever
he has an opportunity will devour lambs, kids, or hares. ...
/o/ossifrage.htm - 10k

Wishing (25 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:12 But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity
of those wishing for an opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be ...
/w/wishing.htm - 13k

Transgression (70 Occurrences)
... The word "rebellion" differs from this word in that it may be in the heart, though
no opportunity should be granted for its manifestation: "An evil man seeketh ...
/t/transgression.htm - 29k

Market (24 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An opportunity for selling anything; demand, as shown by price offered or
obtainable; a town, region, or country, where the demand exists; as, to find ...
/m/market.htm - 19k

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... entered into this succession, Syria was the strongest power in this region of Western
Asia, and ready to take advantage of every opportunity of increasing her ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Cast (640 Occurrences)
... (n.) A tendency to any color; a tinge; a shade. 38. (n.) A chance, opportunity,
privilege, or advantage; specifically, an opportunity of riding; a lift. 39. ...
/c/cast.htm - 41k

Advantage (44 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable
to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage ...
/a/advantage.htm - 19k

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