Risk Taker

Risk Taker

Thesis: "Take a risk for Him in the millennium!"

Main Texts:

Matthew 25:14-30 ---Read from the Message

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Mat 25:13 NIV)

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. (Mat 25:14 NIV)

To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. (Mat 25:15 NIV)

The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. (Mat 25:16 NIV)

So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. (Mat 25:17 NIV)

But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Mat 25:18 NIV)

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. (Mat 25:19 NIV)

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ (Mat 25:20 NIV)

"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat 25:21 NIV)

"The man with the two talents also came. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ (Mat 25:22 NIV)

"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat 25:23 NIV)

"Then the man who had received the one talent came. ’Master,’ he said, ’I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (Mat 25:24 NIV)

So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ (Mat 25:25 NIV)

"His master replied, ’You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? (Mat 25:26 NIV)

Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (Mat 25:27 NIV)

"’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. (Mat 25:28 NIV)

For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Mat 25:29 NIV)

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Mat 25:30 NIV)

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Duet. 31:6 NIV)

Illustration- Risks

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 expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self

To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss

To love is to risk not being loved in return

To live is to risk dying

To hope 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 and is nothing

They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live

Charmed by their attitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom

Only a person who risks is free

Introduction:

Risk taking should be an indispensable part of the Christian walk. When we look back over church history we see Christians who risked all to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. These individuals had courage to begin something or take a stand for God in the midst of difficult circumstances. For some it meant ridicule, slanderous remarks, becoming laughing stocks in their community, it meant being condemned by their community, it meant imprisonment, it meant personal loss of family, friends, and finances. It meant facing a dangerous situation. For some it cost them their lives. But all these risk takers made an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God.

Yet, sadly, on the other side off the coin where the one’s who where Christians but refused or where to afraid to take a risk for God. They waited for a better time, a safer situation, or a guarantee of assured results which never came. These people we have never heard about their names are not known in the Kingdom of God archives. It’s a sad fact that throughout history their have been many opportunities to make a difference but individuals refused to step forward. They refused to take the risk for God. No names - nobody knows about - names lost in history forever!