What Are You Willing To Risk?

 People take risks all the time! Skydiving is risky. Opening a business is risky. There are risks every time you have a surgery. People risk things for what they believe matter.
When it comes to your money you will risk things for financial gains. How much have people risked in the name of education or professional advancement? If you live your life in fear of failure or for the surety of safety you will do nothing!
So, now I want to ask you a question. What have you risked to serve God?
Living a disciple's life will cost you something. Greatness doesn't come without sacrifice. Spiritual blessing usually comes after a cost has been paid.
Luke 5:1-8- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Peter has been working all night long and hasn't caught anything! He's done fishing and is cleaning up getting ready to probably go take a nap. But Jesus said that if Peter would just get out of his comfort zone and would ignore what he thinks he already knows then he will get a blessing. Once Peter went along with what Jesus said, he got more than he ever expected.
Matthew 26:73-75- And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
How did Peter go from "Lord I will never deny you" to "I know not the man"? He wasn't willing to take the risk. He didn't want to pay what he thought would be the cost.
You don't know what the price will be for taking risks for the Lord. You can imagine many awful things. Others have paid very high prices for serving Christ. But God will always be there to go through it with you.
If you're a christian in America, the reality is that the risks are very small. You may get some looks if you pray over your food at a restaurant. You may get mocked if you preach on the street. Someone may reject the tract that you try to give them.
There are Christians risking their lives in other countries just to read the Bible, or attend a service. There are many who have already given their lives to take a stand for Christ.
I Corinthians 4:10- We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
Will you risk your convenience? Will you risk your health? Many have risked life and limb. Many have lost friends and family. All the apostles died a martyr's death except John. Paul himself gave so much!
II Corinthians 11:23-28- Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
I wouldn't blame Paul for taking it easy in his later years. He gave so much already! And yet, he wasn't finished. Those risks didn't stop him. He was ready to take more.
Philippians 3:13-14- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
You're afraid you might fail. But why not try?
Matthew 14:23-32- And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
I've heard many preachers berate Peter for his lack of faith. Really? He's the only one that tried! Peter and Christ are the only two to ever walk on top of water!
You're afraid to fail? What if you succeed?
I'm not telling you to keep a list of what you've given up for Christ. Don't try keeping a score card of your discipleship. God will make sure that you're repaid. You just keep going.
Mark 10:29-30- And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
There's always further to go, more to do, and more to grow. There's a risk you take in serving Christ. Not everyone will like you because of it. It may cost you friends. People may call you weird. They may even mock you or falsely accuse you.
Matthew 26:6-13- Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
I always get exasperated with this story because they're in the house of a LEPER! And yet, he's part of the group giving this lady a hard time for giving something precious of hers to the Lord. It was hers to give!
Your life is yours to give. Christ will not force you to accept Him as your Savior. He will not compel you into living your life for Him. It will always be your choice.
Joshua 24:15- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.