For the past three weeks I have been preaching about risk. During this time I have come to a very important conclusion, our level of risk is dependent upon the value that we have put upon the reward. The old saying is that a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush, meaning that it is foolish to trade a sure thing in hopes of gaining more because there is also the possibility of ending up with nothing. Too many of us live by this axiom. There are moments in each one of our lives in which God puts in front of us an opportunity to change, to step out in faith, to become more than we currently are, to fulfill divine purpose. With each one of those opportunities comes risk, a need to leave what we have known, to change what we have seen work in the past, to attempt a new task or even to embrace a new people. I think that the Bible, through lessons of men and women like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Peter, Paul, Barnabas and many others, teaches us that every step of faith requires a risk, a leap, a belief that what God has promised to do is of much greater value than what He has commanded us to leave behind.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” I have begun to be concerned that many of us fall short of the influence we were created for in this life because we love it too much. Hebrews 11:10 says of Abraham, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” How is it that Abraham was willing to leave everything he had ever known and go to a place he had never seen or heard of? He put more value on being in the place that God had prepared for him than he put on being in the place where he was comfortable and secure.
In the first two chapters of his first epistle Peter refers to the church as pilgrims, strangers and aliens. He is trying to make a very important point, if you believe that this is where you belong then you will come to embrace the world around you. We were not set in the world to become like the culture, mindsets and people around us, we were placed here to bring the kingdom of God with us, to become “salt and light” that effects change rather than those that become changed. We have been created to take risks of faith that challenge the status quo, that defy selfishness and that are completely dependent upon God to be fulfilled. It was risky for Nehemiah to ask for permission to leave the king’s service and return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. It was risky for Esther to approach the king and reveal that she was one of the Jews that were about to be destroyed because of Haman’s plan. It was risky for Peter to go to Cornelius’ house and declare the gospel to Gentiles. With each risk was also the hope of reward, that Jerusalem would once again have walls for protection and to bring glory to God; that the king would receive Esther and the Jews would be saved; that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh rather than only on the nation of Israel. Each of these people counted the hope of reward greater than the risk of loss.
God is speaking to all of us in like manner. He is asking us to take steps of faith, steps of change, steps of love and of service that appear costly to us now. If we look at Jesus’ words for our example we see that we are being called to “love our enemies”; “turn the other cheek”; “take no thought of tomorrow”; “not worry about what we will eat or drink”; and even to choose to lose our lives so that we might save them. Choosing to be the one that serves rather than the one served is risky if we look from the eyes of the world and the culture around us, but Jesus chose it. He declared that He, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve. How amazing is that? The One who created all things and even “holds all things together” chose to come and serve His creation! How? Why? I think Hebrews also answers that question for us, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning the shame”. What was that joy? It was you and me and every other believer that ever was or ever will be. Our salvation was costly for Jesus, even risky. He knew from the beginning that many would not believe that His death and resurrection would not assure that everyone would put their trust in Him and be saved, but He valued you, He valued me above the cost, above the risk, above the cross.
Risk is all about value. So, what do we value the most? Abraham was asked to put Isaac on the altar to show who he valued more, the promised one or the One that gave the promise. The rich young ruler was asked to choose, he could follow Jesus without his possessions or he could keep his possessions without Jesus. Maybe your current situation and decision is not as dramatic but it is a choice all the same. Will we live for the Kingdom of God? Will we spend ourselves, our time, our money, our affection and our energy to see the lost saved? Will we embrace God’s kingdom and live with a loose grip on the things of this world? Will we choose to endure things that those around us think are foolish so that we might walk in the joy that God has set before us? I want to be a risk-taker for the Kingdom of God. I want to be willing to go when He calls, to speak when He speaks, to give when He asks and to trust that He is always in control. We sing the song, “I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world could afford to give.” I want to move from singing those lyrics to living them. I pray that you will join me on this journey and that we, together, will be those that become so heavenly minded that we do more than earthly good, we literally see God’s Kingdom come and His will be done here on earth as it is and will be in heaven.