Risk. What do you think of when I say that word? Do you think of a crazy men fighting off deadly animals, secret spy operatives on a high speed chase, or a man taking a bullet for his lover? We typically think of words like hazard, injury, or exposure.
But Risk, if properly applied, goes way beyond these words to bring about exponential benefits. If you invest very little stock in a company, you will see very little profit. Little exposure in a relationship brings about little connection with the other individual. No time or effort put into school means very poor grades. So why risk? What is there to gain?
Risk is the vehicle which is used to bring God glory. Without risk, there would be no salvation (Hebrews 12:2). Without risk, there would be no concept of love (John 5:13; Romans 5:6-8). Risk, or sacrifice, is at the very heart of love – “we love because he first loved us.”
Paul shared his vision of risk with Philippi.
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(Phil. 1:20–21)
The call is to go. The command in itself is worthy of Risk. In the words of John Piper… “If our single, all-embracing passion is to make much of Christ in life and death, and if the life that magnifies him most is the life of costly love, then life is risk, and risk is right. To run from it is to waste your life.”
For more on the subject, read Risk is Right by John Piper. Free pdf found here.
Staying Humble (Philippians 2) 