Risk: Faith-filled or Foolhardy
Then Jesus gave them an example. He said, “No one tears a piece out of new clothes to patch old clothes. Otherwise, they will tear the new clothes. Also, the patch from the new clothes will not match the old clothes. No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins. The wine will run out, and the wineskins will be destroyed. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. After drinking old wine, no one wants the new. They say, ‘The old wine is better.’ ” – Luke 5:36-39, NIRV
Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith-filled risks. This always involves change. This Alliance core-value and priority of Jesus is a challenge to move into day-to-day life. Someone has wryly observed, “Change is the only constant.” And they are a right. Change is happening all the time. So too is the opportunity for risk. In fact, the current realities being what they are, you and I live in a world of risk and change. Be that as it may, key questions still remain. First, are our risks for God’s purposes or for our own? Second, is this change just for the sake of change or is this meaningfully moving us to better achieve God’s purposes?
Let me state here and now, there is no perfect system for answering these questions. There is no rubric by which we can without fail determine a risk to be faith-filled or foolhardy. Even so, it is well worth it to begin thinking hard about how to answer these questions as well as we can because, achieving God’s purposes is a top priority for the followers of Jesus. Here then are some key questions to ask as we seek to determine what kind of risk and change we are embarking on as we seek to fulfill God’s purposes:
Is it Biblical? Keep the main things the main things and the plain things the plain things, the adage runs. And it isn’t wrong. If we are going to take a risk and make a change, the very first and most objective source of information is the Bible. If God has forbidden something in His Word, either in precept or principle, then we know that we are being foolhardy rather than faith filled. Remember that precepts are the commands (both positive, i.e. Love one another and negative, i.e. Do not murder) God gives. We are foolish indeed to set aside or ignore the clear commands of God. The principles of Scripture also guide us. These are the bedrock ideas about who God is, who we are, His saving work and so on. There is more nuance here but still much guidance. God is loving, creative, gracious, kind, for the downtrodden, the humble, the genuine seeker. Will the change(s) we are considering allow us to lean into the things we know to be true about God and how He wants us to live or will they pull us away from Him? Principles are key in guiding us in particular situations that may not be explicitly dealt with in Scripture. This is how we can navigate life in a culture so different from the one in which the Bible was written while being faithful to it. This is how we begin to determine if we are achieving God’s purposes or our own as we risk and change.
Is it God’s leading? Even with the precepts and principles of Scripture guiding us, we are given the indwelling Holy Spirit as our guide. He is our spiritual GPS so to speak. He will not ever lead us to do something that violates the precepts or principles of Scripture. So, if we think we hear His leading and it is against what the Bible teaches, then that isn’t His voice leading us at all. But, His promptings and guidance often put us on a new path. He may very well urge specific action. If we are following His lead, then our risk is faith-filled and it will achieve God’s purposes.
Who gets the shine? If a faith-filled risk pays off, the glory will go to Jesus. If a foolhardy risk pays off, the glory will go to us. As we are carefully weighing the risk and change we are considering, it is a really good idea to think through, “Who will get the shine if this change results in success?” If the answer is predominately you, then you are probably headed in the direction of a foolhardy risk. Faith is always about lifting up Jesus and His Kingdom, not about us building our own.
What is the counsel of others? One of the incredible graces God has given us is the grace of community. We don’t walk alone and we don’t have to make decisions on our own. This is so helpful to us when we are considering a risky change. Other godly people (esp. if they are more mature in Christ) will help us determine if the change or changes we are proposing are faith-filled or foolhardy. Multiple perspectives and past experiences, are gained when we seek the advice of brothers and sisters in Christ. While we shouldn’t probably grant full veto power to others, if trusted and mature advisors are raising red flags, this should give us pause. It’s not that everyone has to agree with you but, going it alone is a great way to get down some dangerous and unhelpful paths. If no one else can see or hear what God is leading you to do that is a pretty good sign that it might be you and not them who is seeing things askew.
Is it lawful? We are to be subject to the governing authorities. The only exception to this is if they pass laws that go against God’s laws. While this can be at times a difficult line to discern, the default of Christ followers must be to abide by the governing authorities. Our faith is never to be an excuse for rebellion. Even in situations where faithful followers of God had to go against the governing authorities or their laws, it wasn’t a rebel’s heart that informed their actions. Rather, it was their submission to a higher authority (God) that lead them not only to act but also to calmly explain their actions. The book of Daniel is a great case study in not submitting but also not rebelling against governing authorities, despite their laws and governance being against God.
For Discussion:
· In times of rapid change, opportunities for growth and faith-filled risk abound. What specific change might God be asking you to make in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic?
· Faith-filled risk and change can sound complicated. Most of the time, it is the simple matter of obeying God rather than giving way to fear. What step of obedience can you take in your commitment to follow Jesus? This could be something big (like getting baptized, or changing your career) or it could be something small (like letting a neighbor know you are praying for them). How will you live in greater obedience to Jesus’ call, “Follow Me.”?
· To take a faith-filled risk means we have to have faith. How will you remind yourself of God’s goodness, care and love in these days of fear, sickness and death? What promises of God should you memorize (or review) so that you can be reminded of them amidst a steady stream of daily reminders of how uncontrollable life is?
· Remember God’s faithful care in your life. Share the story of His care with a family member or friend, or journal about it. Allow God’s past faithfulness to encourage you as He calls you to step out into faith-filled risk and change.
Resources to equip and encourage:
For Kids: Risk or Play it Safe?
For Adults: Sami Dagher Testimony