Risks and Riches

Have you ever done any sort of financial investing? If so, you’ve probably heard from an investing consultant: “With great risk comes great reward.”

That’s easy for them to say when they’re investing YOUR money, right!?!

And perhaps you’ve also heard “Remember, this is for the long-term. Don’t go checking the stocks every day or you’ll get worried. It will take time to make a profit.”

I believe this mirrors our spiritual lives so well. I have long been enamored with missionary stories of ‘the greats’ who have gone before. You can read many of their stories here: https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/bioindex.html.

Or I read accounts in scripture of people doing the seemingly impossible for the Lord, and I find myself wanting to reap the kinds of rewards they have. To do something really great for God, to see many come to Christ, to walk on the metaphorical water with Jesus.

The problem is many times I don’t want to step out of the boat.

It makes me uncomfortable to share my faith. It inconveniences me to drive across town and participate in that event. It interrupts my morning routine to run next door and help my neighbor. It uses my already tight budget to make a meal for that family.

Turns out, I’m super good at finding reasons not to do things.

But just like investing money, if we want the riches of Christ, we have to be willing to take the risk by stepping out in faith. I think we need to be clear about what the riches of Christ are. These aren’t physical riches of any kind.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding RICHES of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable RICHES of Christ;

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the RICHES of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

In every one of these verses, the word ‘riches’ means ‘fulness’. Do you want to experience a deeper relationship with Jesus, and know the Lord as well as the people in the stories you read about? Then you’re gonna have to take some risks, my friend.

Maybe you’re worried that you’ll fail. Or that you’ll get hurt. Or be embarrassed.

Don’t worry- you will. At least some of the time.

And that’s okay! No one has come to know the Lord in a deeper, fuller way who hasn’t experienced suffering in some form. Rejection, ridicule, physical violence, loss of resources…these can all be the consequences of putting your faith out there.

There’s a famous quote from William Carey that people use all the time:“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”― William Carey

He used the word ‘expect’ when referencing God because He always comes through. He is always faithful. We can expect great things from Him, because He always does great things! He has the power to help us accomplish whatever He nudges us to do.

But see how he uses the word ‘attempt’ relating to us? That word just means ‘try to do’. William Carey didn’t say ‘Accomplish great things for God.’ He used the word ‘try’, because he knew not everything we do will be a smashing success.

See, Peter learned he could step out onto the water when Jesus called him to, because Jesus was right there. The minute he lost his footing and began to sink, he found that Jesus would pick him back up. Learning to trust Jesus no matter what (even when it looks like failure) is a pretty great lesson itself. Often times we learn more through failure than we ever will through success.

But too many times we stop before we even get started because we’re looking down the pike, and we can’t see how we could possibly succeed. So we talk ourselves down from taking that risk.

Remember, friend, this is for the long-term. It takes time to make a profit. You can’t get to know the fulness of Christ overnight.

Much like those who dangle ‘get rich quick’ schemes before the eyes of money-hungry fools, so too does Satan dangle ‘get rich quick’ schemes before the eyes of those who hate suffering.

“You can get to know Jesus in a deeper way by just repeating His promises to yourself.”

“You can get to know Jesus more by just being still and breathing in His presence.”

“You can know God in a deeper way by sending me $500 and I’ll pray for you.”

No. You can’t.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:10 “That I may KNOW him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

Jesus risked it all for us. He left all His riches in Heaven with the Father. He subjected himself to torture, humiliation, hunger, sleeplessness, exposed himself to disease, hung out with sinners…and made a way for me to be reconciled to God. [And highly I recommend reading the rest of that chapter and seeing if God doesn’t prick your heart.]

The riches of Christ are worth the risk. Who’s ready to step out of the boat?

Ephesians 3:14-21
(14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
(16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
(19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.