Risk Is Inherent For Success

   When you sit down with a financial planner, they look at your age and try to help you determine how to reach retirement goals. Particularly younger clients are usually told to invest at least a fraction into new, small and foreign companies. These may be riskier, but they are key to successful investing. When you find that special someone with whom you think you want to spend the rest of your life, you become keenly aware of risk. You risk rejection by making your feelings known. You put your heart at risk for disappointment, betrayal and hurt. But, think of the payoff for taking such a risk! Marriage can bring greater bliss than one would think possible on this earth. When facing a job change or relocation, that is a scary proposition. Will it be a failure, a flop and a frustration? One never knows, but often the risk is rewarded with renewal, growth and challenge. Risk is inherent for success.

   For the church to succeed and grow, it must take risks. It must risk displeasing some people in order to please and obey the Lord. It must risk financially, stretching and challenging itself through ambitious contribution goals. It must risk emotionally and socially, when its members strive to reach out to lost souls and face potential rejection. It must risk in these same ways to reach out to other members in an attempt to build relationships needed to make a church close and strong. Yet, those who take the risk find the results rewarding and gratifying. Do we believe that God blesses those who are willing to risk themselves, their pocketbooks, their hearts and lives for the good of the Kingdom?

   Look at Barnabus and Saul (Acts 15:25-26). Their risk paid off in greater service to Christ. Look at Prisca and Aquila (Romans 16:4). They “risked their necks” for Paul. Why did they do this? Not just for the gratitude of other Christians, but also for “eternal life” (Romans 2:7). Epaphroditus risked his life for the Philippi church of Christ (Philippians 2:30). It was to bring him honor and bring the church reward in righteous giving (29-30). Churches willing to take risks for the Lord will succeed and they will also be personally blessed. Are you willing to take that risk?