Choosing Risk

Risk is my word for the year. I believe that God put this on my heart through listening to how everyone was saying good-bye to one another this last year. Almost every time I would talk to someone or read an email, each conversation ended with, stay safe. So, I began to think about scripture and think if it says to just stay safe and comfortable, not taking any risks. As I reflected on scripture, I began to think of all the stories that involved somebody trusting in God and taking a large risk even when they logically shouldn't. We can look at Abraham, Noah, David, Jesus and the Disciples for starters. And then I came upon the passage in Mathew 25:14-30. This passage is the parable of the talents. The master gives his servants talents as he leaves on a trip. When he comes back, he asks the servants what they did with the talents. Two of the servants increase the talents by investing them. The 3rd servant stayed safe by burying the talent in the ground. When the master returned, he was well pleased with the first two servants that took risks, but he dealt very harshly with the servant that stayed safe. My big take away from this parable is that growth does not happen without taking risks, and in the end, it is better to take a risk than to play it safe. This year, I will be praying and asking God for wisdom in which risk He would have me take.