Taking Risks

             When you talk to an investment counselor, one of the questions they ask is, “What is your risk tolerance?”  In other words, how willing are you to put your resources into something that could be lost or greatly diminished?  How much risk is too much?  If you want zero risk, you might try burying your money.  Of course, there’s always the chance that someone will steal it.  So, what might appear to be risk-free might be the biggest risk of all.  If you pick something relatively safe, like certificates of deposit or Treasury Bonds, your money may be safe, but your return probably won’t keep up with inflation, which means you are losing money.  Again, what appears to be low risk still has potential problems.

            No matter how hard we try, we can’t avoid risk.  People in Florida who tried to escape a hurricane found themselves in the path of tornadoes.  People who lived in the mountains of North Carolina never dreamed that their greatest risk might come from a hurricane.  Risks are everywhere and are often encountered when we least expect them.

            Why then, are we so against taking risks for God?  I know that when I was asked to go on a Mission Survey trip several years ago, my initial reaction was an absolute “No”.  Eventually, I did go, but I was “kicking and screaming” all the way.  Even though I felt God calling me to go, I didn’t want to take the risk.  Much like Jonah, I wasn’t convinced that God’s plan was best.

            Jonah ended up in the belly of a fish for his disobedience.  You would think that illustration would be enough to convince me to obey.  After all, how bad could it be?

            Well, I didn’t end up in the belly of a fish, but…

            There was a taxi driver who didn’t know where he was going.

            Our taxi was in a wreck with another taxi, and several angry people were yelling at us in a strange language.

            Our train had a wreck before we left the station.

            We had a harrowing ride in a rickshaw through the streets and allies of a small city after dark.

            Our taxi driver hit a rickshaw, knocking the rickshaw driver to the ground.

            And who can forget the 7-hour taxi ride with our driver playing “chicken” with every vehicle on the road?  Horns are apparently required equipment for driving there.

            Those were the “big” risks.  There was also the fear of drinking water which couldn’t be trusted even if it was in a sealed bottle.  We had specially filtered water bottles to handle that risk.  There was also food that we weren’t always sure of what we were eating.  All in all, it was approximately ten days of “risks.”  I can’t even imagine what it’s like for a missionary to go and live in that place.

            So, why do it?

            First, Jesus' last commandment to us as believers was to go and make disciples.  There are over 7000 people groups who have not yet heard of Jesus.  Someone must take the “risk” to go and tell them.

            We took that survey trip because God was calling us to reach a certain group of people who had not yet heard the Gospel.  While we never found that group, He revealed to us another group in a different part of the same country.  We didn’t hesitate.  We went and are still working to reach that group for Christ.  It’s called “obedience”.

            The bottom line is that life is a risk.  Knowing that why not choose risks that will accomplish something for Christ?  I wouldn’t want to be the one to arrive at heaven and tell Jesus, “I got here safely!”

            What kind of “risks” is God calling you to take? 

            And just so you know, I now refer to that trip as “the greatest adventure of my life!”  Follow Jesus, no matter the risk, and who knows what adventure He has in store for you!

Philippians 3: 8 – 10

        “He is no fool who gives what he cannot lose to gain what he cannot keep.”

Jim Elliot