Always Prioritize These Two

1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,
1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

This is a letter from Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church. He tells them that he was planning to visit them but he has been delayed. The Apostle explains his plan to visit the Corinthian church for a prolonged period of time. Then the Apostle tells the church what has delayed him. His plan was to make a quick and brief visit to Ephesus then proceed to Corinth, but things have changed. Events in Ephesus have forced him to stay in Ephesus longer and delay his trip to Corinth. Something had to be prioritized in Ephesus over Corinth, what was it?

What happened in Ephesus that changed Paul’s mind suddenly? What in Ephesus became a priority over the plan to visit Corinth? What is this that Paul prioritized over his great desire to be with the Corinthians? Our Bible text today tells us that two things of a greater priority happened in Ephesus. First, a great door for effective work opened. Secondly, opposition to the gospel arose. These two became a priority to Apostle Paul. He abandoned all other plans in order to address these two. Always prioritize these two!

First was an opportunity for effective work. An opportunity to preach longer. An opportunity to preach to more people. An opportunity as a result of people’s interest in the gospel growing. An opportunity accorded by the receptiveness of Ephesus. All opportunities must be prioritized. Always prioritize these two!

Secondly, opposition against the gospel work arose. The opposition that threatened to reverse all gains. An opposition that would have destroyed the church. An opposition that would have refocused people from what matters to that which is trivial. An opposition that if not immediately addressed would totally derail the work even permanently. The opposition is a challenge or a threat. All challenges and threats must be prioritized. Always prioritize these two!

Opportunities do not linger around for too long. If you do not prioritize opportunities, you will live to regret it. Whenever an opportunity emerges, all less pressing issues must be set aside and the opportunity prioritized. Corinth was important but less pressing. Ephesus had an opportunity that could easily pass. Paul delayed the less pressing work in Corinth and prioritized the opportunity in Ephesus and eventually, Ephesus became a very strong church of that time in that region. Always prioritize opportunities. Always prioritize these two!

Challenges and threats when left unaddressed will develop root and destroy all gains. Challenges and threats need immediate attention or else it will be too late to stop them. Paul realized that leaving Ephesus with these challenges and threats growing would mean that next time he returns, the church would be dead. These challenges and threats became a priority. Always prioritize challenges and threats. Always prioritize these two!

Opportunities abound in our day to day life. Opportunities to pray. Opportunities to study God’s word. Opportunities to worship. opportunities to study a certain subject in school. Opportunities to do your assignments. Opportunities to attend class and learn more. Opportunities for further studies. Opportunities to develop good health. Opportunities to exercise. Opportunities to eat right. Opportunities to change bad health habits. Opportunities to make friends. Opportunities to bond as a couple and as a family. Opportunities to guide your children. Opportunities to apologize and make up for a lost time or bad past. Opportunities to invest. Opportunities to grow at work. Opportunities do not linger for too long, if you see them, prioritize. Any delay will always lead to regret. Always prioritize these two!

Challenges and threats are constantly visiting us. They may seem small and innocent but once they take root, it may take a lifetime to undo, or we may never undo. When a child exhibits bad behavior, coming home late drunk, or bad company it must be addressed as a priority. Any delay may need lots of money, heartaches, rehabilitation centers, unwanted pregnancies, and even death. When a child displays signs of disobedience, it must be instantly corrected or it may be forever too late. If a spouse attempts to be violent, it should be condemned and rejected immediately or else it will recur and end in homicide. If a spouse strays and proves unfaithful, it should be immediately prioritized so that the behavior is stopped from recurring and growing. Any delay may mean many episodes of heartaches in the future. Anything threatening needs an immediate address or we wait to regret it when it is too late. Sitting and wishing doesn’t remove threats, it instead allows them to grow stronger and deeper. Always prioritize these two!

Everything else that is less pressing should give way to addressing opportunities and threats. These two when addressed will be a blessing in our lives. Any opportunities to make things better in your work, school, business, spiritual life, health, and in your relationships, should be immediately prioritized. Even opportunities to break up from bad relationships before marriage should not be left. Threats must be addressed too. Anything threatening your welfare, anything threatening your progress, anything threatening to destroy what has been built up, should be immediately addressed before it’s too late. Always prioritize these two!

Leaders are trained to always analyze their work through SWOC or SWOT analysis. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Challenges(SWOC). Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats(SWOT). Opportunities and Challenges or Threats are very critical in assessing our work and in making progress in whatever we do. Always prioritize these two!

Dear God gives us the wisdom to prioritize these two. Give us the wisdom to identify opportunities and threats. Give us the courage to deal with these two. grant us resources required to make the best of opportunities and threats, in Jesus’ name, Amen!