Are You A Risk Taker?
The Gospel of Luke
Luke Chapter 19
Scripture= Luke chapter 19:26 (N.L.T.)
“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
Observations and Applications=
Do you like to take risks? Are you willing to step out beyond yourself and your comfort levels? If someone asked me if I was a risk taker I would probably respond that I am. Lately however, I sense that my Abba Daddy (Father God) is challenging that opinion of myself.
I crave adventure but I see that I am allowing my busy-ness to control my risk. I also see that the failures of my past can control my sense of adventure and keep me secure in my comfort zones. Our enemy the ‘accuser of the brethren’ (the devil) will bring up your failures and tell you “that as long as you are moving forward everything is okay. After all remember what it was like to be in great need and you don’t want that to happen again do you? Why risk it? Why step out into the unknown, just wait for a sign or for things to get set up for you before you take risks and step out of your comfort zones!”
Our enemy’s advice sounds all right doesn’t it, but let me tell you that the consequences of such an approach can be devastating! In Luke chapter 19, Jesus tells a story that is like the ‘parable of the talents’ found in Matthew 25:14-30. Three servants are given a portion of ten pounds of silver with the instructions to invest it for the Master while he is gone away.
Two of the servants risk losing the silver by investing it. One servant hides his potion of the silver to make sure that nothing is lost. The two servants that took a risk were able to make a profit for their master and were rewarded proportionately. The one who hid his silver of course made no profit at all. The two that took the risk, you could argue, took a chance and could have lost everything and then what would the Master have said? The third servant is the only one who could guarantee that nothing would be lost.
It seems however, that the point of the story is not about playing it safe and not risking anything. Rather, it seems like the point of the story is in fact about being willing to risk everything! Look again at verse 26, Jesus tells us that we are to use what we have been given and to not play it safe. Doing nothing is NOT an option! WE MUST BE WILLING TO STEP OUT AND TAKE THE RISK!
Is this story and the point it makes speaking to you? Like I wrote earlier, I am being challenged that I am not stepping out beyond my comfort zones and trusting God. God is showing me that my response to his word MUST be obedience without calculating the risk involved or how God’s command will make me look! There are risks, when we step out, no doubt, but I have to trust in God for the profits of the investment my responsibility is to obey! I have been challenged to go back and write down the investment opportunities I have not acted upon. I am also supposed to write down the new areas of risk that God is placing before me. What about you? Are ready to step out and step up? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
A friend of mine Steven Tavani, made this statement in a recent meeting of pastors I was attending:
“Don’t choose something so cheap that it doesn’t cost you anything.
-Instead-
Choose something so great that it will cost you everything!”
Prayer= Lord, I want to step out and obey your word. When I am afraid I will trust in you. I am ready for your adventure; I am willing to take the risk so help me God.
