Take A Risk

Measured by any gauge, the Apostle Paul is one of the great figures of history and dominates the landscape of Christianity. Of the 27 books that constitute the New Testament, Paul is the author of 14. He possessed a dazzling mind, a burning heart, and an iron clad will. He is the first, most most controversial, most profound, and most impactful of all Christian theologians. As one studied observer put it, “all of Christian theology is a series of footnotes to the Apostle Paul.

After a few decades of studying his life and legacy, one of the secrets to his success has become scintillatingly clear. A large part of Paul’s success is attributable to the fact that Paul was a risk-taker. Let me adduce just one example from his writings to substantiate my point. In 2 Corinthians 11:25, Paul shares a remarkable (and frightening) fact. He says:

….Three times I suffered shipwreck…

He includes this admission in a catalogue of the incredible challenges that he faced and the enormous difficulties that he endured across his 30 year career of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that he experienced shipwreck. Not once. Not twice, But three times!

May I state the obvious? It is highly unlikely that I would have gotten on another ship after the first shipwreck! For most of us, one bad experience is usually enough to change our direction. But to sign up for another trip and another potential shipwreck? C’mon Paul! I have read that one line thousands of times, wondering why he got on another ship!

Why would he knowingly jeopardize his life? What motivated his embrace of such apparently foolish behavior?

Was it ambition?

Was it mental instability?

Was it boredom?

Was it love of adventure?

Was it recklessness?

Nay, it was none of these. What drove Paul to keep getting on those ships was his fierce love for and loyalty to the cause of Christ. He had such a burning desire to tell people about Jesus that he was willing to take any risk to complete his life’s mission and calling. Paul was motivated by neither comfort nor convenience, but by his calling. And if getting on ships was the risk that he had to take to fulfill his calling, then getting on ships was the risk that he was willing to take.

Risk-taking is not natural because taking risks exposes you to injury or loss. And who wants to gets injured or lose? But there is an old adage: “no risk, no reward.” Tis true. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Perhaps your unhappiness with the rewards you are currently enjoying has everything to do with the risks that you are unwilling to take.

So I have a few questions that I want you to consider:

What or who do you love so much, or what do you want so much that you are willing to take a risk?
When is the last time you took a risk?
Have you ever taken a risk?

I have already prayed that everyone who reads this blog will take a prayer-drenched, biblically-informed, well-calculated risk. You won’t know the life you are missing out on until you do. A wise man once said:

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to another is to risk involvement,

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return,

To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow,