These risks reveal that we never misplace trust when we trust God. These risks were not like betting your salary on the underdog and praying for a lucky break. Behind these risks was the confidence that God would be faithful to his word, whether they lived or died. A wise risk is God-centered and God-trusting.

I never anticipated having church members tell me that going to church is too risky. COVID-19 has melded together, going to church and risk-taking. I am asking questions now that I have never asked before in ministry. Is it worth the possible risk to the physical well-being of church members to gather together? Is gathering together worth the risk of appearing antagonistic to our governing officials?

When I first began thinking through these questions, I realized that I hadn’t ever thought much about risk in the Christian life. And I don’t think I’m alone. To make wise decisions about risk-taking, especially when our choices also cause others at risk, we need to understand the difference between wise and foolish risk-taking.

Every Christian’s life involves risk. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples to risk their lives and reputations. Jesus’s disciples should expect to be taken advantage of (Matt 5:10-12, 40-42). Christians take risks, but not every risk is wise. Jesus also commends people who flee when they see the “abomination of desolation.” In that situation, it is wiser to run rather than die (Matt 13:14-16). So, how can we discern between a wise, God-trusting risk and a foolish one? The New Testament offers some guidance.

When is risk-taking praised?

The New Testament shows three situations when risk-taking was wise. The first, evangelism and missions. Paul and Barnabas risked constant danger on their missionary journeys (Acts 15:26). They embraced the danger that came with preaching the gospel in unreached places. Second, when serving other Christians. Epaphras risked life-threatening illness by bringing Paul a message from Philippi (Phil 2:25-30). Prisca and Aquilla also “risked their necks” to minister to Paul, bringing gladness to him and “all the Gentile churches” (Romans 16:3-4). And third, to help people in need. The writer of Hebrews commends his readers because they “had compassion on those in prison, and […] joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property” (Hebrews 10:34). Here we see three examples of when risk-taking was wise.

God-Trusting and Danger Embracing

The situations alone did not make the risks wise. One common thread through all three of these risk-taking situations ties them to wisdom – God. They are all God-trusting risks. Divorced from trust in God, all risk is foolish.

When Paul was having a tough time in Corinth, God spoke to him. He said, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9–10). Paul trusted this promise and ministered in Corinth for another year-and-a-half. His risk took a specific promise of God and acted on it in faith.

Likewise, the Hebrew Christians trusted God’s promise of a better possession. They valued his promise more than their possessions, and therefore, risked losing their belongings to help others (Hebrews 10:34).

These risks reveal that we never misplace trust when we trust God. These risks were not like betting your salary on the underdog and praying for a lucky break. Behind these risks was the confidence that God would be faithful to his word, whether they lived or died. A wise risk is God-centered and God-trusting.

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