Is it right to risk?

 

Deep down many of us are longing to fight for something worthwhile. We are longing to risk.

 

And whenever we don’t, something inside of us dies.

 

Every time we say no, our hearts harden, the plight of the lost concerns us less and less, and we get comfortable where we are, armed with excuses why we are ultimately playing things safe.

Getting married seems risky – so many marriages fail, and we don’t want to get hurt. So we decide to delay and delay.

Getting too involved with politics or campaigning for justice seems risky – we might run into trouble at work, or be marginalised because we make others feel uncomfortable.

As Christians we are encouraged to share our faith with people. But it can seem risky – they might ridicule us. We might not know the answers to their questions.

Or we may feel that God is calling us to somewhere where the gospel is not being preached, be it a city centre in the UK or to the other side of the world. But it can seem risky to move – we risk not finding another job, we risk our health, we risk our families, and maybe we even risk our lives.

 

 So why do we struggle with risk?

 

1)      Because our culture is risk-averse

Our 2 big cultural idols are longevity and security.

Living a long life is a high priority; any thought of it being shortened is anathema and to die early is the greatest tragedy. So to risk our happiness and health, and even more so our lives? The message is clear – you’re crazy!

In addition, we want comfort and security. We don’t want to risk anything, right down to Argos Insurance for your new wristwatch. And this all seeps through into the church, into our lives, and we start to value security as our highest goal.

How often do you hear a commission to go to risky places preached in your church? Rarely.

Well-meaning people may ask you if you plan to move overseas like we have – ‘What about your job’? ‘What about the children’s education’? ‘What about your health’? ‘Be sensible’. They may want the best for us. But the ‘best’ is not necessarily a cosy life in suburbia.

And yet risk is part of the ordinary Christian life. As soon as we become Christians we are promised risk, even at the cost of our lives.

"Every Christian," said Stephen Neil about the early church, "knew that sooner or later he might have to testify to his faith at the cost of his life" (A History of Christian Missions). To become a Christian was to risk your life. Many did it. Why? Because they wanted to gain Christ and were ready to swim against a culture which prizes security and comfort in this life. "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 16:25).

 

2)      Because we don’t understand that it is really no risk at all

Matthew 13:44 says “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”.

Look at the joy promised when the man risks all he has by selling his property!

But it was no risk at all was it? He knew what was in that field. And in his JOY he sold (risked) all that he had to get that field.

So maximize your joy.

How? For the sake of love, risk being ostracised, gossiped about and disdained, "for your reward is great in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12).

As Christians we are safe in life and in death. God has taken away the risk of eternal death. When Jesus came to earth he risked all that he had and died in our place so that we need not fear risking our lives. ‘Neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 3:38-39).

And so the only real risk that remains is temporal death.

So why do we fear risk? Because we value our physical life on earth more than our eternal spiritual life. But because we are made to live forever, then losing our life is no risk at all. As Christians we are safe in life and in death.

3)      Because we fear man and not God

When it comes to a ‘risky decision’ we are encouraged to ‘be wise’, to ‘weigh up the options ‘. Whilst sensible at one level, we can all too soon start trying to manage the risk. Reduce it to the minimum possible.

This is seen as wise. But is it biblical?

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus criticises those who say that they’ll follow him but they just need to tie up some loose ends first. They seem to be acting wisely. But Jesus doesn’t think so. He calls them to follow him to a costly, risky way of life.

Proverbs 9:10 says ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom’.

Not risk management.

Or risk reduction.

But instead, wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord.

Fearing the Lord means that our obedience to God trumps our risk management. Yes, we should weigh up options, seek advice, and pray about things. But if we sense God is calling us to do something, then the wise and biblical thing is to fear Him and obey. And even more so, if the Bible plainly tells us to do something, then there’s no discussion.

Such as meet together, even if doing so is illegal.

Or preach the gospel, even with the threat of jail.

Or to go where the gospel has not been preached, even if it may harm your health or even take your life. I mean, do we label foolish those who have given their lives in bringing good news to those who have never heard the Gospel?  

Jim Elliot a missionary who died taking the gospel to the Auca Indians said, ‘he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose’.

In all these cases the wise and sensible thing to do is to obey, not to debate

So should we risk?

The greatest risk we can take is to avoid risk, because when we do, something dies inside.

As we go on in the Christian life those promises we made when young, those desires to see something significant happen, to live a life that counts, that is distinctive and edgy, get lost somewhere amongst the cares of life and the deceit of our wealth. We don’t care enough about what we believe in to risk…well…anything. We fear losing our job. Or our reputation. Or our home. Or our lives. And something dies inside.

My dear friends, you were made for risk. To risk your life for Him who not only risked, but gave his life for us. It really is no risk at all when we trust the one who did it all that we might live with him forever, safe in life or in death.