We live in a ‘risk-averse’ world. We have rules and laws to ensure we never have to take even the slightest risk. As a child I climbed trees, climbed a huge cliff (in truth it was only about 20 feet high) and played the usual rough and tumble games resulting in scrapes, bruises and bloody nose.
I’m sure many children today do this, or more likely take other risks their parents are not privy too. But it seems Society would prefer we wrap our children in bubble wrap, and I’m not sure why! Children learn through experience. Actually, scratch that. We all learn through experience. Children learn to walk…and they often fall over. But they learn, and to be frank that first step must feel like a monumental risk to them. Yet the desire to learn and experience overcomes the risk they may harm themselves…
Risk defines humanity. If we don’t take risks then we really do not fulfil our potential to learn. If we’d never risked crossing a road then we’d never have learnt to judge the speed of traffic when we want to cross. If we’re afraid we might look stupid asking a question, we limit our knowledge. Limit our ability to grow into who we are meant to be. This is true for our lives…and it’s true for faith as well. When we follow Peter’s example and walk toward Jesus we begin risking things for God. It’s only then we truly do things for Him, and in welcoming the risk of faith into our lives we are freed from fear. Free to serve God in new and exciting ways. We are freed to trust God, be generous and sacrificial in our outlook. Free to become counter-cultural models for Church and community life. Prepared to give everything for His glory, not ours.
Jesus’ followers risked everything to build up a common life in Christ and everyone had all they needed. Can we say this is true today? In our communities or our churches, or in us? Paul says we are justified through faith alone, yet faith’s outpouring requires action and God’s grace in our lives. It requires us to trust what we believe is true is true and to risk everything for that trust. All that we hold dear to our hearts. Our loved ones. Our money. Our possessions. Even our standing in the community. We must be prepared to do as Andrew and Simon did, put down our nets and follow Jesus for a life of uncertainty where risk means running a different race. A race where we might be called to go somewhere or do something when we really don’t want to. But God reassures us it’s alright. Because only in the risk do we discover the truth as Jesus accompanies us along our path. When we risk all we have for God and accept His Grace it opens us up to who we are and to what’s going on around us in the world. It frees us to risk everything, all that we are. Our eyes. Our hands. Our mouths. Our feet, and our minds. Just as those followers of Jesus did so many years ago.
For only a person who risks everything for God is truly free. Rev Paul K.
