Looking for Opportunities

Today Glen and I were at a coffee shop for a break in the middle of our walk.  We were sitting at a table near the door when a young woman with her arms full and pushing a child in a stroller came to the door.  She was trying to maneuver the stroller so she could open the door.

Glen hopped up, opened the door for her and held it while she pushed the stroller through.  At the time there were six men and three women in the coffee shop. (Yes, I counted.) Yet only one saw the opportunity to help the young mother.  Knowing that one man as well as I do, I know he saw her because he was looking for opportunities to help someone.

Some people keep their eyes open for opportunities for new employment.  Some watch for opportunities to save money, others for opportunities to make money.  Some look for opportunities to promote their cause, their beliefs, even their very selves.

But to look for the opportunity to help is quite different.  While the woman with the stroller certainly thanked Glen for his help, she doesn't know anything about him other than the fact he helped her in a time of need.  He received no benefit from the action other than the satisfaction that he helped someone and honored the Lord by his obedience to Him.

But there was more to the simple action than obedience.  It spoke of a much greater motivation.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  (John 13:34,35.)

He helped because he loves.  He loves people and mostly he loves his Lord Jesus Christ.  This I am quite sure was his motivation for getting up to help the young woman was because of his love for others.  There are many ways in which I would like to be like my husband when I grow up.  One way is his great friendliness and love for others.  It doesn't matter who it is, what their walk of life or situation, he is genuinely kind and friendly to everyone.  There is no one I know who more embodies this verse in Proverbs than my husband, although my dear friend Peggy comes mighty close:

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: 

 and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  (Proverbs 18:24.)

Helping others may not entail big things, sometimes opening a door, giving a heart felt greeting, or even a genuine smile, can mean a great deal to someone who is hurting or lonely.  Let us look for those opportunities the Lord has placed in our way to help others, to be a source of comfort or encouragement to them along the way.