Imagine having Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, who is like the world’s richest man currently with a net worth of about $161 billion ask you “What do you want me to do for you?” I’m sure your answer won’t be “Please sir, give me some time to think about it.” Anyone would definitely make a life-changing request.

There is a legendary story of Bill Gates being interviewed by a journalist on the secret of his success (I don’t know how true it is). The story has it that Bill Gates simply brought out a cheque leaf and asked her to put in any amount she wanted. She declined “I do not mean this Sir” and rephrased her question. In response to her question, he handed her the cheque again but she still refused to collect it. Then he tore the cheque and said to her

“The secret of my success is that I don’t miss opportunities as you just did now… you could have been the richest broadcaster in the world today.”

Call it work ethics or whatever, fact is she had an excuse to miss a life opportunity.

About 2000 years ago, a blind beggar had a golden opportunity to get the one thing he desired most in life and he would not let it slip by. Jesus was leaving the city and Bartimeus (as he was called) was by the roadside begging when he heard the noise of the crowd and he enquired what was going on. As soon as he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to call out to him (Jesus) to have mercy on him. The crowd tried to hush him down but even then his voice became louder until Jesus heard and sent for him. He immediately threw his long outer garment aside (which would have probably impeded his movement) and jumped to his feet to meet Jesus. Then came the life changing question from Jesus to the blind man

“What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord I want to see” he replied

“Receive your sight,” Jesus told him “your faith has healed you.” (Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43)

The Bible reports that the blind man immediately began to see. Wow! Just like that. What an incidence! There are other similar incidences in the Bible where people would not trade the golden opportunity of an encounter with Jesus for anything in the world because it is a life-changing experience. Ask Zacchaeus and the woman with an issue of blood for instance. They would tell you it is divine.

What about you?

This time, it is not Jeff Bezos asking you, it is the Savior himself asking “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus is not the world’s richest man. He is the heir of all things and through him the universe was made. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. He sustains all things by his powerful word and he sits at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, superior to the angels. From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (Hebrews 1: 2-4, John 1:16) He can offer far beyond what the richest man in the world can. It is this person who asks you today “What do you want me to do for you?”

What will Your Answer Be?

Like the journalist, do you think you have a justifiable reason to decline this open offer?

What opportunity are you letting slip by you?

• Stay informed. Bartimaeus had a predicament (blindness) but he was not deaf, so he made the best use of what he had. Your background is not the reason why your back is on the ground. Ask questions. Make enquiries. Be aware of what is going on around you. Don’t cry about being jobless when you close your eyes to small job or business opportunities around you. You never can tell where your breakthrough may come from.
• Opportunities do not always show up at your doorstep. Jesus was leaving the city when Bartimaeus heard. He was not about to allow such a rare opportunity pass by him. Who knows if Jesus was ever going to pass that way again? Do not take opportunities for granted. You may never have such again.

 What is most important to you in life?

Your best life is not acquiring all the riches of the world. That ends here. There is a reality awaiting you after you die. It is Eternity; it is longer than the longest time anyone ever spent here on earth. Hence it matters where you spend it. It profits you nothing to gain the world but lose your soul (Mark 8:36-37; 9:47). Because this means eternity in hell.

I ask again, what is most important to you in life? I hope not money. I hope it is the salvation of your soul. Jesus is the key of life – the life that you need. He said he has come to give you life, not just life but life at its fullness (John 10:10). Nothing is more important than this my dear friend. All you need is seek him first, those other things you worry about will be added (Matthew 6:33). Remember, Jesus is bigger than the world’s richest. The latter may offer you money but not life. Jesus can do both.

What is preventing you from having it?

Who or what is holding you back from reaching for the best life you deserve? Family? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Money? Sometimes when you decide to make a noble decision, people around you who do not understand what you do try to shout you down just as they did to Bartimaeus then. Did he give in to their discouragements? Never! He would have probably remained blind forever. He rose above their criticism and when he caught the Savior’s attention, the same people trying to hush him earlier were the ones who started to cheer him up, telling him that Jesus had sent for him. Don’t listen to that voice in your head trying to get in your way. Don’t let the pursuit of fame and money make this opportunity slip by you.

Bartimaeus immediately cast away the garment that was probably going to drag him back in such a crowd. It is time to dissociate from enemies of progress. They could be in human form and they could also be in form of habits. Shun every negativity around you and accept the golden opportunity to a full life with Jesus.

The terms of the offer are quite simple:

• Believe in Jesus (Acts 16:31)
• Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38)
• Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (Mark 8:38, Mark 10:9)
• Be baptized for cleansing from your sins into a new life (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:4)

Would you let another opportunity slip by you (Hebrews 3:15)? Jesus is asking you today “What would you want me to do for you?”

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