Tuesday, September 18, 2007
TAKE A SPIRITUAL RISK
I love playing games, but not games that last more than about an hour. So when it comes to games like Monopoly and Risk, I'm not a big fan. I just can't sit still that long. But my kids love long games like Risk. They'll invite friends over and play a game of Risk for hours. One thing you'll learn quickly from the game of Risk is the only way you can win at the game is to take risks.
Life isn't really any different than the game Risk. God created you to be a risk taker. I'm not talking about parachuting out of a plane or running with the bulls in Spain. But when you were born, it took a risk for you to come into this world. You were encouraged by your parents to take a risk and take your first steps. Later in life some risks you took were things like ...
Even spiritually we sometimes preach a gospel of safety. Brian Nicklaus challenged my thinking and asked some tough questions about taking spiritual risks in a post last week called "Is She a Martyr." Here is what Brian asked, "Do we too often preach the gospel of common sense and personal safety? We are afraid to drive on icy roads to a worship assembly, even though believers in early centuries risked their necks and property to assemble in public. Many today walk barefoot or ride a bike for miles to be with the brethren at given assembly. Many today still risk loss of life and property for assembling."
And,
"How many parents would be proud of their child who enlists to fight against worldly enemies in foreign land, compared to the number of parents who would encourage, or even allow their kids to be missionaries and live in those same dangerous places?"
God created us to be risk takers. Matthew 25:14-30 tells us about the three servants that were each given a certain amount of talents (money) to care for. Two of the servants took risks with their talents and doubled their master's money. But the bible says that the third servant chose to dig a hole and hide his talent. When the master returned the two servants who risked something and doubled their masters money were commended as, "good and faithful servants." The third servant, who had taken no risk and had hid his master's money, gave this explanation to his master, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. SO I WAS AFRAID and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! ...Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
God created you to be a risk taker, not servants who hide their talents in a hole. Live spiritually the way God created you ... take a risk. Quit taking the easy road. Instead of trying to just be "comfortable" in your faith, try taking a risk this week. I challenge you to take a huge spiritual risk this week.
Life isn't really any different than the game Risk. God created you to be a risk taker. I'm not talking about parachuting out of a plane or running with the bulls in Spain. But when you were born, it took a risk for you to come into this world. You were encouraged by your parents to take a risk and take your first steps. Later in life some risks you took were things like ...
- A marriage proposal
- Taking a new job
- Investments
- Buying a new car
Even spiritually we sometimes preach a gospel of safety. Brian Nicklaus challenged my thinking and asked some tough questions about taking spiritual risks in a post last week called "Is She a Martyr." Here is what Brian asked, "Do we too often preach the gospel of common sense and personal safety? We are afraid to drive on icy roads to a worship assembly, even though believers in early centuries risked their necks and property to assemble in public. Many today walk barefoot or ride a bike for miles to be with the brethren at given assembly. Many today still risk loss of life and property for assembling."
And,
"How many parents would be proud of their child who enlists to fight against worldly enemies in foreign land, compared to the number of parents who would encourage, or even allow their kids to be missionaries and live in those same dangerous places?"
God created us to be risk takers. Matthew 25:14-30 tells us about the three servants that were each given a certain amount of talents (money) to care for. Two of the servants took risks with their talents and doubled their master's money. But the bible says that the third servant chose to dig a hole and hide his talent. When the master returned the two servants who risked something and doubled their masters money were commended as, "good and faithful servants." The third servant, who had taken no risk and had hid his master's money, gave this explanation to his master, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. SO I WAS AFRAID and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! ...Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
God created you to be a risk taker, not servants who hide their talents in a hole. Live spiritually the way God created you ... take a risk. Quit taking the easy road. Instead of trying to just be "comfortable" in your faith, try taking a risk this week. I challenge you to take a huge spiritual risk this week.
- Serve someone undeserving this week.
- Forgive someone you haven't been able to forgive (and then tell them about it).
- Put someone before yourself.
- Confess the sin you've been hiding.
- Make a phone call to someone who would never expect to hear from you.
- Apologize and say, "I'm sorry."
- Invite a friend to church.
- Come back to God.
- Give outrageously.
- Tell someone about God.
God created you to be a risk taker and if you're not willing to risk anything ... you will probably risk losing everything.
Labels: Christian Living
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11 Comments:
Do I get to be first? Thank you for this latest challenge Trey!
good stuff,
thanks for developing those thoughts.
brian
Thanks Trey for this challenge. This is one we are discussing here right now in becoming more missional minded vs. being an attractional church. Getting out of our boxes is something I have challenged out teens with. It is easy for me to be talking to our teens here at the builing and be able to pray for them on the spot. But the challenge I have given them is one I have been doing for a couple of months now. If someone speaks to me at Wal-mart, the football game or where I am eating and I fing out they are struggling, I ask them if I can pray for them right then. Funny being a Youth minister and this is out of my zone. But now I do it and am challenging the teens to do the same. My next "risk" is to take this idea and be able to offer a prayer of praise for someone when I here them say something good has happened in their life. We need more risk takers
good thoughts trey. we had a speaker at our church this last sunday that had some really interesting thoughts that you might like to here. you can listen at http://bridgewaychurch.com/okc/podcast-bridgeway-sunday-celebrations
it's not up quite yet, but it would be the 9/16/07 and the guys name is mike something. he mentions the church in sardis in revelation 3 and he parallel that they are to our culture. really good stuff. i was very moved by what God was speaking to me then, and this was definitely a good follow up encouragement/challenge. hope you have a good week!
Great post and lists! :)
Seriously- good stuff. I think I will borrow some of it!
Trey, I appreciate the challenge and will try to be more of a risk taker, living courageously for Christ, sharing the good news without fear or shame. THANKS...
I still eat donuts and at my age, everyone says that's risky. Wait, you're talking spiritual risks ......
Very good thoughts. One thing I'm seeking in a new church family is a leadership that consists of risk takers.
my first thought was great post.. and second, God tells us that he doesn't give us a spirit of timidity.
i have to move past the intellectual understanding that God will give me the strength, and do what he asks...what i told him i want to do. otherwise, who am i? and what am i doing?
Trey,
Great post.
I think when we go beyond our comfort zone and try new talents and gifts we may take a risk. I think we also take a risk in sharing our faith in sharing our faith with our loved ones, friends and others who don't know Jesus. When we take that risk though, our faith grows and God blesses beyond we can ask or imagine.
Again great post
I hope you are having a great week in Abilene.
Excellent thoughts...I needed to hear this.
This post was really good for me. I am getting really excited about AIM.
Ryan
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