risky business
His master replied, “O wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words! Did you know that I am a harsh man, taking out what I do not put in, and reaping what I do not sow? Then why did you not put my money on deposit, so that when I returned, I could take it with interest?” – Luke 19:22 & 23
Have you ever taken a risk in your life? I don’t mean a risk like gambling with money or dating someone you don’t really know, but putting yourself out there with a goal or trying something new?
When we try to do something we are never assured of success, but if we do not try at all we are assured of failure. The great hockey player Wayne Gretzky said, “You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Jesus told a parable about a master who left three servants to look after his property while he went out of town, and gave each a share of his money. Two of the servants doubled the money given to them, but the third servant hid it underground so that it would be safe. And you know what? The servant who had hidden the money was punished.
The reason we don’t try is because we are afraid of failure. But failure is not failure if we try our best. Failure becomes valuable knowledge as we learn what to do and what not to do. Failure becomes our teacher – if we let it. And failure paves the way for our success.
Sharing our faith involves risk. Starting a business involves risk. Starting a church or ministry involves risk. We have to give up our pride and give up our ego (caring about what other people think about us). But this should not deprive us of the fruits of risk. We must be careful that we do not end up like the wicked, lazy servant.
Anything worth doing will involve some form of risk. Are you ready to step forward with faith today?
