Faith Involves Risk

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:6

Abraham's story is one that says there is hope for all of us. We can be men and women of real faith if we can follow Abraham’s example.

Faith involves risk. If there is no risk, there is no faith. Faith is not a feeling. Faith involves standing on the Word of God, and sometimes that involves taking risks. Abraham's life was just one risk after another, one step of faith after another. So if we’re going to be people of faith, we can’t be afraid to take a risk.

Over the next couple of days, we’re going to break down what it looks like to take the risk of faith. We’ll discuss three risks of faith today, and three more tomorrow. Let’s jump in.

First, the risk of faith involves leaving what God says to leave. The Bible tells us in Genesis 12 that Abram had an encounter with God. He told him, “I want you to leave.” It meant leaving his family, his household, and his comfort. It meant leaving his security, and everything that gave him identity. God told him, “I want you to disconnect with those things, and take a step to go on a journey with me.” That was hard for Abram. It was not easy to do. It was a risk, but one Abraham was willing to take to follow God’s plan.

Second, the risk of faith involves going where God says to go. In the very same sentence, God tells Abram, “I want you to leave your father's household, but I want you to go to the land I will show you.” God did not specify a destination. He said, “I will show you. I just want you to get going.”

Another critical element in the risk of faith is the “process.” For many of us, when we are trying to find the will of God, it is simply moving from point A to point B. In reality, it is more about the journey between point A and point B. When you look back on your life, you realize that the greatest thing was not the arrival at any particular moment, but rather the process.

The process of getting there is more important than the arrival. The greatest fulfillment in your life will come from going on the journey. That is exactly what God did in Abraham's life. He said, “Go to the land I will show you.” He didn't show him the land. He said, “I will show you when you get there.”

Third, the risk of faith involves waiting for what God says is to come. Many of us don't want to wait on God. We want God to do it now. We want Him to give us a promise now, and we want to see it happen right now. We say, “Lord, I need it now!” He knows when we need it. He knows what He will do, but God often gives us that tension of having to wait and risk. The risk of faith involves waiting.

I hope you’ll join us again tomorrow as we continue our conversation on the risk of faith.