Christian Living

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Missed Opportunity
© 2007

by


Stephen A. Peterson


Jason Little Feather, a Native American of the Seminole Nation, used to enchant everyone, young and old, with his Native American tales and legends.

A favorite was about a poor young man who found a huge chest filled with Spanish gold in a cave outside McAlester, Oklahoma. Because he had no means of transportation and did not desire to attract attention to his new found wealth, he went back into the cave to bury the gold in a deep hole. Before he did so he took a handful of the coins, stuffed them in both pants pockets then headed to town. Before he cashed in his treasure for American money, he thought through a plan to come back to get the rest of his treasure.

On his arrival in town, he first exchanged the old Spanish cons receiving slightly more than $20,000. Rather than follow through with his original plan to obtain what he needed then return to the cave, the young man went about town spending money on lottery tickets, alcohol, gambling away money in a nearby casino and dealing with women of ill repute. Within three days, the young man’s money was gone. He never purchased what he needed but did what he wanted.

“I have lots of gold,” thought the young man. “I’ll just ask someone for a ride to where I want to go and get some more of my treasure. McAlester is full of generous, compassionate people. I know I’ll be able to get me a ride back to my cave. No problem!”

Within ten minutes, the young man received a ride. He told the driver where he wished to be dropped off. As he was getting out of the car, an oncoming vehicle hit the unsuspecting young man instantly killing him. The young man assumed he would live another day rather than plan for the future by obtaining what he needed.

Jason Little Feather would always finish his stories with a moral to his tale. In this story, he said: “The young man had a golden opportunity to return to the cave with what he needed to recover his treasure and prosper. Instead of purchasing what he needed, he wasted his new found treasure on the pleasures of this world. He could have purchased an old, possibly new, vehicle to haul his treasure back into town by his own means. But he did not.

Isn’t this true about our Christianity and our relationship with Christ? Too many come to accept Christ. However, rather than treasure their relationship with Christ, it is wasted on the things of the world and ultimately lost. For no one knows the hour he or she will be called to their eternity. It more beneficial to maintain their relationship with Jesus Christ to be safe rather than sorry.

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