Who Else Is This For?

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Ephesians 5:15–17 NIV

A good idea can interrupt a perfectly ordinary day. You see a clever solution someone has come up with, hear about something worth learning, or discover a possibility you hadn't considered. Almost without realizing it, you begin imagining what could come of it. Then the phone rings, another responsibility needs attention, and the thought is easily forgotten for the moment. Nothing has been promised or planned. Yet something has caught your attention that might deserve a closer look.

Every now and then that thought returns when something else brings it to mind. But this time, we begin to see how it might actually be useful. Scripture encourages us to make “the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). We may wonder whether that thought came from God or simply from our own imagination. But we do know that we're growing more willing to consider even an unlikely possibility instead of dismissing it. Could there be more to this than we first realized?

A closer look may reveal something surprising. An idea that first seemed impractical might connect with a need we've overlooked, a skill we already possess, or an opportunity we could actually pursue. But discovering what is possible also raises questions about what is wise. Our time is limited, and not every promising idea deserves our commitment. Scripture urges us to live “not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). As the saying goes, “Not every need is a call.” Still, exploring a possibility may help us recognize something we would otherwise have missed.

But what if there's another side to this possibility we hadn't considered? Something that began with our own curiosity might also benefit someone else. “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24). Suddenly, the question isn't only whether an idea is worthwhile or whether we have time for it. We begin wondering who else might benefit. And sometimes, what first appeared to be a small possibility begins to matter in ways we hadn't expected.

And something else may surprise us. We find ourselves caring about another person's future in a way we hadn't expected. We may recognize something familiar in that concern. We've seen it in the way Jesus treated people. And now, without setting out to become different people, could we be discovering that what matters so much to Him is beginning to matter more to us?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for opening my eyes to what matters to You. Help me recognize the opportunities You place before me, and as I grow in knowing You, make me increasingly like You. Amen.