Sermon "The Rewards of Taking a Risk"
Rev. Lonnie Richardson
Sunday September 28, 1997
Matthew 25:14-30
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The Rewards of Taking a Risk
As a minister, I have been around death and dying a lot. Ithas effected me in a good way. I'm glad to realize at a mid-lifepoint, that what I do now, how I act on decisions made, designsthe future and the quality of relationships to the very end. Ithink of close families who had a member going through anenduring illness and eventual death. The pain of loss is thereyet at the same time a focused faith was the strength andconfidence which ushered them through it all. That's what I want.And I think that's what you want. When all is said and done, weencounter God's affirmation and invitation to enter into the joyof his kingdom. Faith is vital for this to happen. The essence ofwhat I have to say in the message this morning is in five words,faith is impossible without risk!
Are you a risk taker or a security seeker? The idea of takinga risk can excite and strike fear into our hearts at the sametime. Some people just love taking risks. U.S. News & WorldReport says 150,000 people a year risk their lives shooting therapids down the Colorado River. Since 1970, 45,000 people havetaken up the hobby of hang-gliding. Think about the thousands whoare at the dells bungee jumping: leaping off an 80-foot towerwith just an elastic rope strapped to their backs. Think of allthe sports where the primary appeal is risk: skydiving, autoracing, scuba diving, snow skiing. I understand the newest fad isswimming with sharks. As a result of the remarkable highs in thestock market, 4,000 new people a day are entering the market,risking their money to make more. But most of us are notrisk-takers. Most of us are security-seekers committed to alifestyle of playing it safe. We hedge our bets, cover ourtracks, and touch all the bases. We don't mind the idea of takingrisks, as long as there's somebody else doing it.
It may surprise you to discover that in the parable of thetalents, Jesus encouraged his followers to take a risk with theirmoney. We know that God has entrusted us with a variety oftalents. We know if you don't use it, you lose it. We know thereis an accountability of our lives before God. But in this parableJesus is challenging us to be willing to live a lifetime of risk,for his sake.
Jesus places the spotlight of emphasis in this story upon theone who was given the one talent, and he did nothing productivewith it. When the day arrived for the final accounting of whateach one had done with what had been given to them...The onetalent person sneaks up behind the other two who were being soresoundingly commended and rewarded and he makes his defense.Sir, as if to God, I have heard you were a hard man so I wasafraid and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here itis..It's yours....Just as you gave it to me! Unused...Perfectlyintact.
We are unprepared for the thunderous reply. "You wickedand lazy servant. You should have used what I gave to you butbecause you didn't I take it away and give it to those whowill." Then he thunders on. "As for thisgood-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness..."Does this mean that God is not merciful or that God is unfair.No, it only means that God is business like and that God gives toeach one of us a chance to prove ourselves according to ourabilities and kinds of risks we make.
Yet the truth is that God is accustomed to working wonders,almost miracles with one talent people who have enough faith inGod and in themselves to do significant things. Moses was a manwith blood on his hands; he had murdered an Egyptian, andbesides, he had a stammer in his tongue. James and John wereloud-mouthed fisherman trying to badger Jesus into giving themspecial seats in heaven. Peter was a blundering hulk of a manwidely known for making promises he could not keep. Paul was anunimpressive Pharisee determined to persecute every Christianthat crossed his path. These are one talent persons whom God tookand twisted their talent into something incrediblysignificant...So today we call them saints!
Jesus was forever calling our attention to the importance oflittle things...Five loaves and two little fish he used to feedfive thousand; faith the size of a mustard seed to movemountains; a widow's mite is the most significant offering inchurch. All this to remind us that the small and seeminglyinsignificant are loaded with possibilities and rewards fortaking risks.
How about your talents, those moments of fateful decision whenwe are confronted with the question of whether we are willing toinvest our life and risk the loss of something we want, in orderthat God may have something he wants. Who has not faced thequestion at one time or another? Perhaps it was when you had todecide, "what shall I do with my life? What am I going to dowith myself at retirement? What am I going to live for? To whatpurpose is my life to be put?"
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.
But to risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is torisk nothing, regardless of your talents.
What is the reward for taking a risk? When all is said anddone, we enter into the joy of God. Faith is impossible withoutrisk! It is not faith at all.
Prayer
Lord, speak to us in this moment. Let your word have its waywith us, have its effect upon our lives. We ask you to heal ourhearts, and straighten our motives, and show us what we reallyare and what we are living for; what are the real goals and risksin our lives. Commit us, Lord, to this one great cause whichdemands our time and effort, all the thrust and drive of ourlives. We are called to present our ourselves as a livingsacrifice, wholly acceptable unto you, which is our reasonableservice. Lord, we pray we may do so in understanding it is yourpower working through us that makes the difference. Amen.
