Risky Business

As a young man, Elon Musk had the idea to create an internet company that would change the way people bought and sold products online. As a result, PayPal was born. Most people would have expected Musk to take those millions made from PayPal and turn them into millions more. Instead, he took a huge risk, followed his dreams and created SpaceX and Tesla, which has paid off handsomely for him.

Why is it that the world finds risk-taking so much more appealing than God’s people do? I believe we should be willing to take big Holy Spirit-filled risks to advance the kingdom of God! Now mind you, I’m not talking about being immature. I’m talking about being willing to take God at His Word and move forward in faith to further His kingdom.

How do you determine if a venture is a risk led by God’s Spirit? Assuming you are a person who is walking with God, spending time with Him in prayer and learning from His Word, I believe the determining factor will always be motivation — Why am I doing this? How is my heart being led?

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).

Why would we not take big risks for our God? All the great patriarchs of Scripture were Holy Spirit risk-takers! Read Hebrews 11 again! Be inspired by those who did mighty things for our God. Then zero in on a verse that is the heart of that chapter: “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:16). God is pleased with those who have faith in Him! Conversely, it must be true that He isn’t pleased with people who don’t. Could that be why many of our churches don’t enjoy His favor? Our faith is activated when we take risks! 

I’m convinced that our biggest impediments to being Holy Spirit risk-takers are fear of failure and the tendency to become comfortable with our present circumstances. Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner and survivor of the Holocaust, is quoted as saying: “The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.”

Could indifference be the reason we aren’t attempting to do great things for our God? I pray that it would never be said of us that we just didn’t care or we care more for ourselves than we do for Your glory, Lord. William Carey, the great missionary whom many consider the father of the modern missionary movement in the West, once said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”

May we all pray a prayer like this: “Lord, let this be the attitude of my life and heart today. Help me not to be satisfied with the status quo! Give me the willingness to take Holy Spirit risks that will stretch my faith and give you great glory!”