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Missed opportunities

Muriel Larson

Jesus told about a Pharisee who stood in the temple and prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like all other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). The tax collector, however, bowed his head in humble contrition before God and beat his breast, saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Too often, we prefer to reach well-groomed, nice, middle or upper-class people for the Lord. We tend to dismiss the alcoholics, drug addicts and others we consider blatantly sinful.

Michelle worked in an office with a number of other young women. She found one new employee, Suzanne, particularly obnoxious. She cringed at the foul language that peppered Suzanne’s conversations.

Then, one day, Suzanne asked Michelle to go to lunch with her. Michelle was afraid of what the other employees would think, but finally Suzanne persuaded her to go.

“What is it you have?” Suzanne asked as they ate. Because of this question, Michelle was able to present the gospel to her and lead her to Christ. Suzanne became a new person with a new vocabulary and great zeal for the Lord.

Because she had dismissed Suzanne as a sinner, Michelle had almost missed an opportunity to lead her to Christ. What opportunities might we miss because of our short-sightedness?

John Dillinger was put out of Sunday school when he was 12 because he was disruptive. He never came back. He grew up to become one of the most notorious criminals of all time. His life ended in a gutter, his body riddled with bullets. What might have happened if some Christian had taken a personal interest in the boy, visited him and led him to Christ?

At your Christian group, church or place of work, do you ever encounter people who smoke, swear or do other things that are offensive to you? Even though people may act as if they want nothing to do with Christ or His church, they may have a deep hunger in their hearts that is never satisfied by the world. The Bible says that God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

We can look the other way when we encounter people whose lifestyles and attitudes are repulsive to us. Or we can change society by having compassion for people who are entangled in the ungodly morals of our day. We need to learn to look at them as needy people who have chosen the wrong way to fill the aching void they feel inside. We need to get involved in their need and help them come to know Christ.

Muriel Larson is a writer from Greenville, S.C.

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Last modified May 23, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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