Is God Worth the Risk?

To save all we must risk all. – Friedrich Schiller

In John 2:1-11 we read about Jesus turning water to wine at a wedding. Just imagine the frantic servants when they realized they had run out of wine. Jesus’ mother told them to do whatever Jesus told them to do. When Jesus told them to draw water out of the water jars and take it to their master, were they wondering what consequences they might suffer if they gave plain water to him? The water may have been splashing out of the flask as their hands shook while they carried it to the master and waited as he tasted it. How happy they must have been when he told the bridegroom that this was the best wine that had been served for the last three days. They took the risk and followed Jesus’s commands.

On another occasion in Matthew 26:69-74 we find Peter denying that he even knows Christ. Not just once but three times. At that time, Peter was not willing to risk admitting that he knew Jesus. He was afraid.

In Acts 7:54-60 we read about Stephen being stoned because he stood firmly planted in the truth and was not afraid to tell the people things they didn’t want to hear. He knew the things he was telling them were dangerous. Those things made them angry enough to kill him.

Saul was a young man much respected by the Pharisees. He was zealous in his persecution of the early church. But after his experience on the road to Damascus he changed completely. He gave up everything he had going for him in the community and began to preach the gospel. He knew that the Pharisees might kill him. He was there to witness the stoning of Stephen. But he was willing to take the risk.

We’ve all been faced with challenges where our spirituality is concerned. We’ve all been tempted to trust in our own judgment over God’s. All too often we succumb to this temptation and miss out on the blessings we would receive if we fully trusted in God. We need to stop and examine our lives and ask, “How much better would our lives be if we had always trusted in God’s way?” History is a powerful tool. Look back to times when you took matters into your own hands versus times when you totally trusted God. If you’ve never trusted God, think of someone in your life who you’re convinced places their trust in God and lets God totally guide their life. Is there a difference in their life and yours? Admittedly, it may be hard to find someone whom you believe to fit into that category. As humans we have such a difficult time with this concept. This book is intended to challenge you to take that step of faith and live a life involving risk. We’ll look at several different areas of our lives and how entrusting those areas of our lives to God can change us and the way we live.

Romans 8:28-39 assures us that we can totally trust in God because he is always with us. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What, then, shall be say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all―how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died―more than that, who raised to life―is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If we believe the Bible, then we know that God is with us and nothing can ever separate us from him. He is worth the risk because he is always there. We are never taking the risk alone.

Don’t use the excuse that you need to study further before you can make up your mind to totally commit to God. You can’t afford to wait. As humans we’ll never totally understand how God works and the blessings we can receive by trusting Him. We’ll always be tempted to trust in ourselves but as we practice trusting Him it gets easier because His indescribable love shines on us.

We can’t forget though that Satan will always work on us to discourage us and create distrust in us. Ask yourself the following questions:

Is God worth the risk with your money?

Is God worth the risk with your children?

Is God worth the risk with your friendships?

Is God worth the risk with your enemies?

Is God worth the risk with your freedom?

Is God worth the risk with your country?

Is God worth the risk with your family?

Is God worth the risk with your entertainment?

Is God with the risk with your holidays?

Is God worth the risk with your pride?

Is God worth the risk with your reputation?

Is God worth the risk in your workplace?

Is God worth the risk with your time?

Is God worth the risk with your marriage?

Is God worth the risk with your words?

Is God worth the risk with your prayers?

Is God worth the risk with your church?

Is God worth the risk with your faith?

Is God worth the risk with eternity?

This book will help you look at all of these in an effort to grow more trusting of God because God is worth the risk.