God of Risks

Financial advisors often ask their clients about their risk tolerance. Risk tolerance is defined as the acceptable level of loss of any particular asset (time, money, reputation, etc.) a person is willing to take. People who are risk-averse do everything in their power to not subject any part of their life to loss. While that may be responsible, it's not realistic. We are constantly surrounded by risks, some more detrimental than others, but the challenge is understanding when a risk is unnecessary. 

Have you ever considered the many risks God has taken with mankind, and that He asks us to take as well? From the very beginning, God took a risk by creating a being with free will that could rebel. Even beyond that, of all the people in the world, He chose the Israelites as a people to call His own. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, “The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath, He swore to your ancestors…” Or the multiple times He chose the weakest, youngest, most insignificant people to be His messengers, prophets, and most inspirational people. Not to mention His choice of the apostles! He knew all of these risks and their outcomes before He even began, yet this shows you what He thinks about taking a long shot. 

Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” And yet, He took the risk. Time after time Jesus invested in those the world said were not worth the risk. His bold actions proved He wasn’t concerned about staying within His social group or encountering opposition. In fact, Jesus modeled very well the statement we read about many times in scripture, “Be strong and courageous and do not be afraid, the Lord your God goes with you wherever you go” 

It wasn’t just risks in getting God’s message to His creation; it was eventually asking the creation to continue the sharing of the promise of God to all those people in the world. His great commission speaks of going out into the “unknown” parts of the world, “...into all the world…”, therefore, as we realize we’ve been made in the image of God, then we realize we must act as God acts—and He is bold. Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power…” Perhaps it's the command seen in 1 Peter 5:6 that seems to be the riskiest move for us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” Humility is risky; it makes us vulnerable, but it's an essential part of being with God in eternity (1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 3:34). Being humble is completely in your power, and it’s through that act that we see great rewards. 

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” His risk is our reward!