Only Some Risks Are Worth Taking
Some risks are greater than others. Some may lead to looking foolish, others to loss of a job or a relationship. Wise risks, though, have the potential to help us mature. God doesn’t require us to take risks beyond our capabilities. He won’t give us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
A number of years ago, my wife and I felt directed to start going to a certain church. This direction seemed to be dramatically confirmed by the pastor in a question he asked us. Hence, I was more keenly sensitive than normal to listening to the Lord concerning what He might want to do through us in the church. When the pastor invited us to have dinner at his home, I waited on the Lord concerning this divine appointment. I thought He told me to get some paper and write out what He would give me on a certain topic. I believed the Lord said the pastor wanted to know about this but I was absolutely not to bring up the subject or try to steer the conversation in that direction. Instead, I was to put the pages in my back pocket and wait for the pastor to bring up this topic. Once he did, I was to give him the paper and explain all this to the pastor that he might know the Lord was speaking to him about this.
Really, what did I have to lose to do what I thought was God’s will? Writing out the material and putting it in my pocket involved no great risk. That part was not a problem. The difficulty was when the pastor, at the end of our time, asked if I had any ideas on the subject I had written about. He could have thought me bizarre if I gave him the paper. My reputation could suffer as well as my opportunities to serve at the church. Yet, I believed I was to risk looking ridiculous and just give him the paper. What he did with it and how he responded to my giving it to him was not to be my concern.
Is the Lord wanting you to do something for which you could look foolish? Are you willing to do it? Perhaps your reputation before men is more important to you than what the Lord thinks of you.
When God pretty clearly seems to be speaking to us, we need to just do it. It may appear ridiculous. Or too simple. Or too arrogant. After all, who was I to presume to tell this pastor about that topic? Yet, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the glory might be seen to be His.” Make your best guess about what the Lord wants from you, then do it.
Comforting others is costly but worth it.