Risk & Faith

As I was reading an article in Psychology Today it sparked an interesting notion. For risk seeking individuals, specifically Christians, is it possible that because of their faith in God they are more apt to seek more risk? As a Christian, and one who thrives off opportunities to take risks, am I more willing to take risks because of my faith? I have started reading more about this lately trying to find answers in Scripture and have noticed a few important things. Christians (as noted in the Bible–specifically the Apostles and "saints" such as Paul) have been called to be risk takers to varying degrees. I know there are different personalities out there and that this goes against some of their wiring, but I believe that God has called ALL Christians to take some sort of risk, some more than others.

As Christians, do we not take risks every day by just professing our faith in Christ Jesus? This is the lowest version of risk in a Christian's life. When I think about "real" risk takers--not the complacent Christians who practice what they preach one day a week and the other 6 live their safe, protected lives in their lovely homes driving their lovely $50k SUV complaining about their neighbors--I think about King David, and Paul, and Job, and Moses, and Jesus. Are we like this? Am I like this? No. Not nearly. I am not judging those Christians that are the complacent type as I am no better. I am simply making a point. Should we not desire some level of risk? What about those of us who desire extreme risk (according to our culture standards) and seek it out?

An example that might illustrate this is the enterpreneuer type personalities. I believe I am one of those. Years ago I was laid off my job because of the downturn related to 9/11. I took this as a new opportunity and truely felt God was opening a door for me, not taking something away. So I went fulltime into my company and built it to a sustainable business 2 years later. It was then that God open yet another door. The opportunity to work in a Christian environment educating young Christians using the gifts God enabled me with. So without hesitation, I closed the doors on my business and moved on (keep in mind this business was bringing in double what I was offered to leave it). Is this risk taking? Or is this simply a reliance on God? Our culture would say "risk taking", but I don't see it that way. God told me to move on and I did. And He has blessed me immensely for it.

So this is what I am getting at: are Christian risk takers simply following God's command and leading or are we just doing it for the thrill? I think both - I get a thrill out it! God wired us all in different ways. He knows our path before we get there and knows that our "wiring" will help us go there if we just listen to Him. Instead of risk, a term I would use to describe this behavior is "nexting". This term was coined by Edgar H. Schein, a professor of management and organizational psychology expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He explains that nexting is the positive rationale aimed at finding solutions to "problems" in organizational settings. In other words, it is a way to approach a problem and present positive or alternative ways to get to a certain result, looking at the "next" alternative. It's never stopping at an "OK" answer and approaching the problem at a new angle, always pushing for more and better. Should we not be this way in life? Striving for better? Risking much to achieve more? Not to HAVE more, but to ACHIEVE more? Not all of us would want this. But without risk (or nexting) life is just too boring. What would Jesus do? What would He want us to do? Questions worth consideration...

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