I have figured out the key to avoiding any danger or risk, and I’m happy to share this “life hack” with you. You might want to gather the kids around because this is big. Ready?
Don’t do anything.
That’s pretty much it, but it works. For example, driving a car can be dangerous. On average, there are 16,438 car crashes every day. Some of those are fatal, and 3,287 people die in car accidents every day. [Source] Kinda makes you want to stay out of a car, doesn’t it?
Now you’re catching on. If you don’t drive a car or even call an Uber, your chances of being in a car accident drop to zilch.
Think of all the other scenarios where injury or death occurs. Falling off ladders. Getting attacked while jogging. Getting shocked while wiring a ceiling fan. Getting burned cooking on the stove. The answer is the same for any scenario: You won’t get hurt if you don’t go there and don’t do that!
Of course, you’ll also miss out on a lot of the joy and excitement of life.
- You can avoid the risk of breaking your legs by never going skiing, but you’ll also miss the thrill and beauty of skiing down an incredible slope in the Rockies.
- You can avoid brain freeze by avoiding ice cream, but you’ll also miss the joy of Blue Bell Cookies and Cream.
- You can avoid rejection by avoiding people, but you’ll also miss the joy of having good friends and falling in love.
If we define risk as “anything that might go wrong” and we seek to avoid those risks at all costs, we miss out on life. Let’s face it: living life carries a risk.
You might think the examples I’ve given are extreme, even ludicrous, but a lot of people live their lives in fear of things going wrong. And a lot of Christians avoid service and ministry for the same reason. Something might go wrong. I might get hurt.
I’ve tried to enlist people to lead Bible study groups, but they turned the opportunity down because of the risk of being asked a question they cannot answer. Others turn down mission trips because they don’t like to fly … or they’re concerned about leaving their dog for two weeks … or they don’t want to spend the money because … well, what if an emergency comes up later and they need that money?
Ministry carries risk.
Many years ago, I served a church that had its own baseball field. I’m talking about a backstop, bases, and a diamond. Both the church and the field were side-by-side on a well-traveled street. A local girls softball club contacted us about the possibility of using our field. I thought it was a great opportunity to be a part of the community and do some outreach. However, the idea was voted down because a key member in the church was concerned about our insurance and liability. What happens if someone gets hurt? We could get sued!
Yes, ministry carries risk—but it carries great reward.
- Just ask my friend, Brad, who overcame his concerns about leading a group and learned the power that comes with trusting God and the joy of seeing people deepen their faith.
- Just ask my friend, Kathy, who courageously stepped waaaay outside her comfort zone to go overseas and discovered the thrill of talking to others about Jesus.
- Just ask my friend, Brian, who came to faith in Christ because a church risked starting a basketball league.
Yes, ministry carries risk, but it carries great reward—and the risk is worth it.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment” (2 Tim. 1:7).
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Lynn Pryor 