I have often prayed that God would help me reach people who are lost with the Gospel. I have asked the Lord to send me one person to talk to. I have also sung the song “Lead Me To One Soul Today.” I have asked God to send me contacts.
Looking back, I can see opportunities that weren’t sent to me. At the time, I didn’t see them. I was looking for them. When I ask for God to send me someone who needs to be taught, often that means I want some to walk up to me, shake my hand, and say, “Will you please tell me about Jesus?” That’s not how it happens.
You consider how the gospel was taught in the New Testament. A beggar asks for money and Peter gives him something better than money. A woman is gathered to pray at the river and Paul talks to her about God. A jailer is distraught and hopeless and Paul gives him hope. In those cases, no one came up to Paul or Peter and said, “Teach me please!” Oh sure, there are cases that are very similar to that in Cornelius and the Eunuch. But those appear to be exceptions—not the rule. Many of the conversions were slightly opened doors of opportunity that the apostles saw and used to their advantage.
That brings me to the blessing I see for us today. Perhaps you are praying for opportunities. We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us. The recent economic problems are actually a blessing in disguise. People all around us are worried about their future. They are constantly checking the stock market. They are constantly evaluating their investments. The economy is on every person’s mind. 
That is an open door for us. Our friends who are worried about their future need to be told how to invest in an eternal future that never will be destroyed or taken (Matthew 6:19-21). We have an opportunity to begin conversations about true treasure and eternal life in contrast to the empty dreams and promises of this world. The problem is that when the conversations arise about the economy, instead of talking about our eternal security we jump into the conversation and add our own complaints and anxieties into the mix. Perhaps the greatest problem in seeing this blessing is that we don’t have the proper view of our own true treasures.
Friends, we need to recognize this blessing. Instead of being concerned about the economy, we ought to pray to God and say, “Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. Thank you for sending me people that need to know your eternal truths.”
