Are You a Risk Taker?

 

If you answered no to this question, then I will tell you that you need to develop into one.

 

All throughout the Bible God asked His followers to take risk.  He wanted to show them how much faith they had in Him.  He wanted them to see how much they took Him at His Word.

 

So, let’s define what faith is to see how it is linked to being a risk taker.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Faith is more than just a belief.  Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see.  True faith is having confidence in God, knowing that He will do what He said.  In other words, TRUST!

 

As we stated earlier, God sought out risk takers.  Men and women who would step out on faith and obey Him.  If you read chapter 11 of Hebrews, you will see why it is known as the “Hall of Fame” of faith.  Every person mentioned in this chapter was a risk taker.  Let’s take a look at some of these risk takers by verse.

 

v.4--Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said He was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel didn’t give God leftovers.  He gave God his best even if that meant an immediate loss.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.7--Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who was made right with God through faith.  Noah and the world had not yet seen rain, let alone a flood.  But Noah trusted God and took Him at His Word and built the ark, in spite of public ridicule, mocking and the like.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.8-12--God called Abraham to travel to another place that He promised to give him. Abraham did not know where that other place was. But he obeyed God and started traveling because he had faith.   He was a risk taker.  Abraham lived in the country that God promised to give him. He lived there like a visitor who did not belong. He did this because he had faith. He was a risk taker.  He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who also received the same promise from God.  Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations. He was waiting for the city that is planned and built by God.  He was a risk taker.  Sarah was not able to have children, and Abraham was too old. But he had faith in God, trusting Him to do what He promised. And so God made them able to have children.  Abraham was so old he was almost dead. But from that one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. So many people came from him that they are like grains of sand on the seashore.  He was a risk taker.  And because of his faith, he was blessed, his descendants were blessed and we today are blessed.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.17-18--God tested Abraham’s faith. God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed because he had faith. He already had the promises from God. And God had already said to him, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will come.”  But Abraham was ready to offer his only son. He did this because he had faith.   He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death.  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son based off of his faith in God.  He laid his son (the promise) on the altar, not knowing exactly what God was going to do.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.23--And the mother and father of Moses hid him for three months after he was born. They did this because they had faith. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby. And they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.  They were risk takers.

 

v.24-25--Moses grew up and became a man. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose not to enjoy the pleasures of sin that last such a short time. Instead, he chose to suffer with God’s people. He did this because he had faith.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.27-28--Moses left Egypt because he had faith. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. He continued strong as if he could see the God no one can see.  He was a risk taker.  Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doorways of the people of Israel, so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. Moses did this because he had faith.  He was a risk taker.

 

v.29--And God’s people all walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. They were able to do this because they had faith. But when the Egyptians tried to follow them, they were drowned.  They were risk takers.

 

v.30--And the walls of Jericho fell because of the faith of God’s people. They marched around the walls for seven days, and then the walls fell.  They were risk takers.

 

v.31--And Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the Israelite spies like friends. And because of her faith, she was not killed with the ones who refused to obey.  She was a risk taker.

 

v.32-37--Do I need to give you more examples? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.  All of them had great faith. And with that faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, and God helped them in the ways he promised. With their faith some people closed the mouths of lions.  And some were able to stop blazing fires. Others escaped from being killed with swords. Some who were weak were made strong. They became powerful in battle and defeated other armies. There were women who lost loved ones but got them back when they were raised from death. Others were tortured but refused to accept their freedom. They did this so that they could be raised from death to a better life. Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were tied up and put in prison. They were killed with stones. They were cut in half. They were killed with swords. The only clothes some of them had were sheepskins or goatskins. They were poor, persecuted, and treated badly by others.  And the one thing they all had in common was…They were risk takers.

 

So, we will end where we began…Are you a risk taker???

 

Hebrews 11:6 states, “Without faith no one can please God.  Whoever comes to God must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely try to find.”  If you want to please God, you must have faith which means you must be a risk taker!