We often hear we should take advantage of opportunities that present themselves to us. However, it is important that we understand that not every opportunity is one we should take.
God had this to say regarding the people of Tyre: “Son of man, because Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken; it has opened to me. I shall be filled, now that she is laid waste’” (Ezekiel 26:2). With the enemies of God’s people destroying Jerusalem, Tyre saw this as an opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the people of Jerusalem.
The opportunity was certainly there, but it was wrong to do what they had the opportunity to do. So because they were doing this, God said, “Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; and I will scrape her debris from her and make her a bare rock” (Ezekiel 26:3-4). They saw this as an opportunity, yet God would punish them for their sin.
So we should not take advantage of every opportunity. We first need to understand the difference between right and wrong. Then, we need to take advantage of opportunities to do what is right and avoid the temptation to do those things that are wrong.