The Hazards of Risking Nothing – Part 1

Text: Acts 1:1-11

There was once a news reporter who wanted to get a feel for the farming life, so he stopped at a farm one day to ask the farmer some questions. He asked, “How’s your wheat coming along?” The farmer said, “I didn’t plant any.” “Really?” asked the reporter. “I thought this was supposed to be wheat country.” “Some say it is,” came the reply, “but I was afraid we might not see enough rain this year.”

“So what about your corn? How is it doing?” asked the reporter. “Didn’t plant any of that this year,” said the farmer, “I was afraid of corn blight.” “Alfalfa?” “Nope, afraid the price might drop.” “Well, then,” asked the reporter, “what did you plant?” “Nothing,” the farmer said. “I just played it safe.”
Ok, what’s wrong with that story? When is a farmer not a farmer? When you aren’t willing to take the risks of putting a crop in.

Risk is something that we all handle differently. Some folks are, well, crazy. Like the guys who do crazy things on bicycles – you know, riding on the roof of the house, climbing mountains, hopping up and down stairs, jumping across gaps that seem impossible. Others are more concerned with safety and do their tricks on the ground –riding a bike around the corner without your feet on the pedals is enough risk for them. We will find people at all points in between.

The thing about risk, though, is that it can have a real effect on how successful you are in your efforts. The old saying, “if you don’t play, you’ll never win,” is very true. If you’re not willing to take the risks of leaving home and establishing yourself somewhere else, you might find yourself very limited in what you can do and what you can accomplish. If you won’t take some degree of risk – I’m not saying you should be reckless – in the important things of life, you could have a very frustrating existence indeed! If I hadn’t risked rejection and told my wife that I was crazy about her nearly 14 years ago, who knows where we’d be now? God may have brought us together, but we still had to do something!

Another thing about risk is that it can bring you freedom. You might be afraid when you take the risk – but that’s beside the point. You have to step forward if you want to make any progress. If you want good grades in school, you need to be willing to risk being wrong as you’re learning new things. If you want to rise to a higher position in your career, you need to be willing to take the risks that come with greater responsibility.

Christians aren’t exempt from risk-taking, either. Jesus said in verse 8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Now, we have to firmly take hold of our faith and confidence and move out to our destinations.

If we’re going to make progress in sharing the gospel with our community and our world, we can never be content with sitting in our pews and singing hymns. We have to initiate contact with our world and the people within it. Will everyone be receptive? Of course not! But that’s no reason to stop. We’ve been prepared for this: Jesus showed us how God’s power works in human life. But now that we have been prepared, Jesus is inviting us to use that energy in our discipleship.

How’s your risk tolerance? Jesus ran into lots of folks who weren’t comfortable with the idea of risky living. In Luke 4, we read about a man in the synagogue who had the spirit of an unclean demon. Jesus told the spirit, “be quiet and come out of him!” But the people said they weren’t ready for that.
In Luke 5, several people brought a paralyzed man on a bed to Jesus. He said, “stand up, take your bed, and go home.” But the people said they weren’t ready for that.

In Luke 6, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you.” But the people said they weren’t ready for that.

In Luke 8, in the house of a dead little girl, Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” But the people said they weren’t ready for that.

And then, in Luke 9, Jesus told his disciples, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” After his resurrection, he promised that the Holy Spirit would give power to the people. But the people said they weren’t ready for that.

What we’re reading now in Acts describes how the life of the early Christian community took shape. After the resurrection and Jesus’ final words to them, the disciples are now fully instructed and fully informed. It’s time for a new beginning – the birth of the church.

In verse 6, we find the disciples back in their comfortable mode of asking questions. After three years of hearing Jesus tell them that no one will know when the kingdom will come, they confront him: “Is this the time?” Jesus repeats what he’s said before – but he also leaves them with a gift: empowerment. They are no longer left-behind people who don’t know much; they are now Christ’s witnesses with a testimony that will go to the ends of the earth.

But what to do next? Jesus has gone on ahead to the Father. They are still here. How should their days be filled until he returns? This is where risk really enters the picture. Will they take the risk of continuing Jesus’ work when he is not physically there with them?

I’m guessing that the first people of the Church were a mix like we are. There are different kinds of risk-takers among us. Some will play it safe and stick to the down-to-earth stuff, taking care of physical and spiritual needs. They’ll collect food for the hungry, tutor the poor children of the community, or perhaps share a scripture passage with someone in a nursing home. This might not be a very dangerous form of ministry, but it is part of what keeps the body of Christ going.

Other disciples will take a few more risks – they’ll be determined to get closer to God with creative, inspiring, and heartfelt acts of discipleship – they enjoy the emotional charge of walking the line between traditional and new-fangled. They know that God isn’t boring, and they know that the old and the new have to work together. They know that God speaks from the familiar past AND the unfamiliar future and they’ll risk criticism to get their job done.

Then there are the boldest risk-takers: the ones who are not afraid to talk about their faith and express their belief in God’s love, the power of the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus came to save us. People might be put off by them sometimes, but that won’t get them down. Rejection only makes them more determined.

What’s the hazard of risking nothing? You risk never being free, and never tasting life to its fullest. You might be safe… but will you truly be alive? Will you truly experience the joy that God would have you know?
Here’s a poem I read about risking that sums it up pretty well:

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk losing them.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
(Author & Source unknown).

The ascension of Jesus to heaven is good news for us because it means that God loves, values, holds, and will transform our humanity in and through Christ. In returning to the Father, Jesus took all of human life and brought it to the very heart of God. The suffering refugee, the abused child or spouse, the victim of war or terror, the lonely person in the nursing home; the one who struggles with depression or crisis of identity – all can be made whole by God.

The question, though, is, “what kind of Christian are you?” If you don’t know (and most of us already know this), it’s something you should find out. If you do know, it’s time to remember that you’re a witness for Christ and get to it! The first disciples had plenty of reasons to play it safe after Jesus departed. Jerusalem had become a frightening place that some undoubtedly wished to avoid. But after prayer, they did return – as people on a mission. Jesus’ words ring in their ears: “Ask, and it will be given to you.” And ask they will… because they know what to ask for – the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Will you take the risk of stepping out for Christ? Will you walk in the way of Christ, and share your faith, even though not everyone will be willing to receive what you say? Will you let him redeem you from your limitations and set you free for greater joy and service?

Be filled… with the Holy Spirit… be filled with life… be filled with joy… be filled with the freedom God is always willing to give. Be bold to follow wherever Jesus leads – to the heart of God. And bring someone with you! Amen.

Sources consulted:
“No Way Jesus,” Homiletics, June 1, 2003.
Barker & Kohlenberger, NIV Bible Commentary, Volume 2: New Testament (Zondervan, 1994).