a-t-t-i-T-u-d-e-s

T – Treat tasks as opportunities

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

In the secular world, we have been taught to word speak, or not say the truth but also not say a lie.  We don’t have a problem, we have an opportunity.  We don’t have issues, we have improvement challenges.  In some regard, it’s good to think this way.  Call it, living with your “glass half full.”  However, this wordsmithing wasn’t initially done to skirt an issue or problem.  It was meant to motivate people to a bigger goal. 

Albert Einstein once said, "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." In the middle of a trial, we may not see the possibilities.  We may not see what we may learn or accomplish, if we keep our minds closed.

Our passage tonight comes again from the book of Ephesians.  As we’ve discussed before, the Apostle Paul wrote to Ephesus to educate them on God’s eternal purpose and grace and the Body of Christ, the church.  Also included in the text is how a Christian should live as part of the Body of Christ.  Paul talks about walking in love, walking in light, and walking in wisdom. 

When Paul says “walk,” he is using the Greek word, peripateó, which is to conduct my life, to live.  Our verses tonight are taken from the section about walking (conducting my life) in wisdom.  Let’s read from the NIV and Amplified versions.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  NIV

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Amplified Bible

Our buzz phrase tonight is to “Treat tasks as opportunities.”  In the NKJV, the word “opportunities” does not appear.  However, we see it both in the NIV and Amplified versions.  In the NKJV, it refers to “redeeming the time.”  The Greek here is exagorazó ton kairos or properly, take full advantage of, seizing a buying-opportunity, i.e. making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain) take full-advantage of time as opportunity.  So this verse has a dual meaning.  Make the most of every opportunity including taking full-advantage of your time.

Looking at both verses, we see that as Christians we are to live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise making the most of every opportunity including taking full-advantage of our time.  So in every big task and every little task, you are always doing it to fullness of your ability for Christ.  So even if you don’t view a task as meaningful, God does because you are a reflection of Him on earth.  Therefore, treat all tasks as opportunities to live for God.