Crisis = Opportunity (Matthew 13:21)

Matthew 13:21 says, "... yet has he not root in himself, but endures for awhile; for when tribulation or persecution arise for the word, immediately he is offended."

ENDURES for AWHILE

The focus of this study, is the compound Greek word, found in the English phrase, "... endures for awhile..."

[This same phrase is repeated in its compound form, in Mark 4:17, and in the individual words, in Luke 8:13].

There is no true English translation of this compound, that accurately conveys the force of the meaning of the words, in that it is such a vivid and detailed picture that is presented, that one or two words would pale in their attempt to capture the full import suggested.

TIME

In the Greek language, there are two basic words that are translated as "time":

1) The first is where we get our English word "chronology" from, and means, the successive moments, or framework, in which all of our activities of life take place. This is an unstoppable, and ever  moving quantity of measurement, over which we have absolutely no control. This "time" will continue throughout our lives, and encompasses our past; present; and future experiences.

2) There is another word translated  as "time", which presents a very different concept. While the first word speaks of quantity, this word relates to the quality of the events that take place within the framework of the first word. In other words, these are specific happenings that take place within our lives, marked with meaning, small or great, as the moments of our lives, turn into hours; days; months. and years.

This word, or phrase, originally came from the meaning of "to cut", or " to shear". We have, in English, the expression, to "nick" our finger, meaning that we "cut" our finger slightly, and this word origin expresses that type of imagery.

It means a specific moment, or we could say a "slice" of time, "cut" out from the whole. It can even relate to the still used expression,  "the nick of time".

The interesting aspect of this word, is that it is not positive or negative, necessarily, but rather it stands more in a neutral place, and becomes positive or negative depending upon our actions, or reactions to it.

CRISIS / OPPORTUNITY

In classical Greek, the word is translated both as "crisis" and "opportunity". It speaks to events that take place in our lives, where a decision is required, even one of inactivity, the action of which can dramatically alter the course of our lives, positively or negatively.

In the NT, the word not only conveys the seriousness of decision, but the necessity of that decision. There is a certain intensity that envelopes the word, in that unlike the other meaning for time, as being a succession of events, over which we have no control, these are events where our decisions shape our very future, and the quality of our existence.

LIMITED

The other prominent meaning of this word-phrase, is that the duration of these occurrences in our lives, are limited. In other words, the "window of opportunity", or the "crisis" we are facing, will not last forever. In fact, the very inference of the word, is that it is for a brief, short period of time, and action must be taken during that specific season. 

The ironic tragedy, expressed in the parable [Matt. 13; Mk. 4; Lk 8], is that the persecution and affliction, though viewed as a crisis, was also an incredible opportunity, which was not going to last forever, and depending upon the decisions made by the individual, would yield positive or negative results.

In our lives, we are tried and tempted, because of the word that has been sown into our lives, and the challenges that we face, though appearing as a "crisis", are actually a window of "opportunity", that will not last for long, but will define and direct our future, depending on the choices that we make.

Our Father God is always on our side, wanting and believing the best for our lives. Let's continue to have faith in Him, because every "crisis" we face,  also contains the "opportunity" for our growth and advancement in His kingdom.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.