Risk

As an entrepreneur, and a former banker, I have dealt with the element of risk continually. I was interested to read the chapter on risk in Erwin Raphael McManus’ book, “Chasing Daylight”. These thoughts come from chapter 5, “Risk”, pp. 132-142. I felt it exigent to express these ideas in “In Yoke”. My comments are in bold font, his words are in italics. References to scripture are in blue font.

I Samuel 14: 1-11- McManus alludes to the story of Jonathan risking his life against the Philistines while Saul sat under a pomegranate tree with his 600 soldiers all around him. Jonathan chose not to approach the Philistines by stealth, which is to try to become invisible, but to make himself visible. This involved tremendous risk. This seems foolhardy in the ways of battle, especially guerrilla warfare. Seems that Jonathan was more concerned with doing what seemed right because of his trust in the power of the God of Israel.

Many of us live our lives making sure we are not seen. We choose the cloak of invisibility. We can call it by another name, but the result is the same. We choose to remain anonymous. We treasure our anonymity. Is this the choice of the man with only one talent, Christ’s parable of the talents? We choose to remain uninvolved, and our love for personal privacy disguises both our indifference and our isolation. You can live your life and never be seen. This is not about craving to be the center of attention. It is about stepping up, taking a risk and making sure your life counts for the cause of Christ. The most important decisions of our lives will require us to forsake invisibility and risk becoming visible. Whenever you chose to seize divine moments, you move from invisibility to visibility.

Some moments carry the capacity to shape a lifetime. There is a challenge that comes from these moments. The greater the moment’s opportunity, the greater the risk required. This reality is fundamental to faith in Christ and making visible the power of God.

There is no greater moment filled with eternal ramifications than the moment we turn from our sin and turn to Christ. In that moment, when we are invited to receive the infinite grace of God, we are required to give up everything we have. To have the life that Jesus Christ offers us, we must in that moment commit ourselves to die. If we are unwilling to die to ourselves, we are unable to receive the life that only God can give. The moment in which we have the most to gain is also the moment we have the most to surrender. (Isn’t this the epitome of risk?)

This truth is consistent to life itself: the greatest opportunities require the greatest risk. If we really want to live life to the fullest, we must be willing to trust God and risk everything. If heaven had an advertising section, it would take out a full page ad that reads: “Wanted: risk takers for God.”

Women and men who seize divine moments embrace the inherent dangers that come with them. Divine moments oftentimes require us to put our own well-being aside for the well -being of others, to relinquish our safe places for the sake of others.

We can touch only those within our reach and can only the world in which we live, but we can do that often. It requires us to move from the isolation of our own invisibility to dangerous place of visibility if we are going to make the invisible visible. That is the amazing thing about seizing divine moments. We choose to no longer be invisible, to take the risk of letting others see us, and so when we become visible, the invisible presence of God becomes visible. Our action invokes God’s activity. It is as if God is waiting for someone to trust him enough to act on His word.

There is so much God wants to do that can be seen only after we begin to do it. Sometimes we just don’t realize how much latitude God gives us. In Philippians Paul wrote: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

You see, whatever is within these parameters is fair game. Think, dwell, and enjoy any of these you want. Everything and anything! They are all within the parameters for God’s will in our lives. Think anything God thought you want. Do any God deeds that you desire to do.

Truly, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

When I awoke Saturday morning(11/12/2011) I was drawn to this chapter; in fact it was the next chapter in my reading. When I turned the page, I thought, maybe this is part of what God wants told to his people. I do recommend the book.

I heard McManus preach when I was in LA at Mosaic Church on October 30.

Powerful.