« Fuzzy spring 2007 dates | Main | Steve's Lenten Temptation study-reflection »
February 08, 2007
Who dares wins : the Christian life and Risk
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a story about a wealthy ruler who gives his servants some money and says “operate with this until I return.”
“When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done. The first said ‘Master, I have doubled your money’.
He said ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making you governor of ten towns.’
The second said ‘Master, I made a 50% profit on your money’.
He said, ‘I’m putting you in charge of 5 towns’. The next servant said ‘Master, here’s your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don’t suffer fools gladly’.
He said ‘You’re right I don’t suffer fools gladly – you’ve acted the fool. Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would get a little interest on it?
Then he said to those standing there ‘Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.’
They said ‘But Master, he already has double…’
He said ‘That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.”
from The Message
Share an example of when you have taken a risk – eg:
- Stood up for something against the opinion of others.
- Revealed something personal about yourself to someone.
- Refused to join in with something you did not feel was right.
- Tried something that could have led to failure or disappointment.
“If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.”
Matthew 10:38,39 The Message
Another translation
“If you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for me, you will find it.”
Matthew 10, 39
What do we feel about this?
Can we help each other to live more riskily?
Edge
Come into the deep
where the ocean floor
shelves steeply away
under the thrust of your feet.
Swim out
beyond your depth.
Plunge into waters
cold and sweet.
Come into the free,
cross the boundaries
of home or foreign place,
out into open space
where earth and heaven meet
and land recedes beyond our sight.
Taste the wide air,
sharp and sweet.
Come over the edge,
where the rocky ledge
gives way to vastness,
sudden stark. Dive
into wild air, wide time,
beyond your sense.
Freefall into space,
sheer and sweet.
This is the leap
into life and death
way out beyond
all sense and sight and depth,
where the empty air
and water and abyss
call
Come.
Nicola Slee
Final Blessing
The blessing of God, in all the manifestations of God, rest upon each of our heads this night and bring us joy and love and hope.
The blessing of Jesus, who showed us what love might be, enter each of our hearts.
The blessing of the Spirit, who gives renewed life and energy and wisdom delight our spirits.
Monica Furlong
Comment:
This may sound a bit 'pseuds corner' but I've been thinking that there might be a connection in our fearful, risk averse times with the rise of casino culture. People (our Government included) are quick to exploit the very human impulse and intuition that 'taking a risk' is a necessary thing for fulfilment and personal growth. In a play safe world obsessed with 'risk assessment' gambling has a head start - casinos are places where risk taking is sanctioned and encouraged. Sadly it's not the sort of risk taking that leads to life. Casino's greedily rob the vulnerable of their limited resources, disabling them from taking the 'good' risks that can lead to happiness and the enrichment of communities.
Gillian
Posted by Paul Northup at February 8, 2007 10:14 AM