One of the great failings of many Christians is their failure to react correctly whenever an opportunity to teach God’s message is presented to them. It is not an unusual event to ignore opportunities to teach another person; actually many of us do not realize when an opportunity comes our way to teach another person. Opportunities to teach others are often neglected because we do not understand what an opportunity is.
Many opportunities to teach others are nearer than we realize. Did you ever consider your husband, wife, children, in-laws, relatives, and neighbors as possible opportunities to instruct them about your religious beliefs versus their non-religious connection? Indeed, many times our opportunities escape us because they are so near to us. We must awake to opportunities that are ours because those unnoticed and neglected people in our lives need the gospel as much as those that we read about in foreign countries.
The New Testament is full of instruction and examples for us regarding possible missed or overlooked opportunities to convert a lost one. Some of those examples follow;
1 Tim. 4:6-11 – 6 if thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. 11 These things command and teach. KJV
1 Tim. 6:1-3 – 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; KJV
2 Tim. 2:24-26 – 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Titus 2:3-4 – 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, KJV
Heb. 5:12-14 – 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. KJV
2 Timothy 2:2 – 2 and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. KJV