Risk and Reward

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38 ESV).

I am often with people who have chosen high risk behavior. For the most part these behaviors end with destructive results. It is always true that the risk versus the reward (or return) determines the action. For the most part that is a relatively easy formula; however, in regard to the Christian life, that is not the case. This is especially true since taking risks does not come naturally to most of us. I must admit I am somewhat daring, though as I age my desire to take risks has significantly decreased. I have become more cautious and careful with most behaviors. In fact, I may be the only person you know who has been giving a warning from a highway patrol officer for going too slow on the Interstate Highway! I thought 45mph was a good speed, after all, I was in the far right lane. Well, it seems I was wrong. Being too cautious, when it comes to the gospel, is not the direction Jesus expects from us. He wants us to be “all in.” Jesus was a risk-taker. What a risk he took in leaving heaven and coming to earth where “he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (cf. Isaiah 53:3). Jesus risked everything, and he desires that we do the same for him and the gospel. That is a huge task and one not to be taken lightly. For those of us who would follow Jesus and be willing to “lose our lives,” it takes courage, commitment, and trust in a God who will always be with us. Actually, if we believe Jesus, taking risks is the only way to live. It is the only way to “save our lives.” It’s all or nothing, but the reward is greater than anything we could imagine. As Jesus says elsewhere, “there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). I’m not sure what “risk” you may be contemplating. If it will accurately and plainly declare the truth of God’s grace to another, go ahead and take the leap. It may seem foolish; it may seem unwarranted or extravagant. Do it! Do not delay hoping for a better circumstance or time to share Christ with another. That risk of rejection is nothing compared to the reward of service in His name.