Most of us like to think of ourselves as risk takers, at least to some extent. Of course, what we consider to be risk varies. While some risk-takers jump out of airplanes and repel down mountains, others consider their daily commute to work quite risky enough.
In Mark 10, Jesus encountered a man we've come to know as 'The Rich, Young Ruler'. Maybe we ought to call him 'The SAFE, Rich, Young Ruler'. This man ran to Jesus and posed a question: "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus began with the "safe" answer. "You know the commandments ..."
The man replied, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."
At that point, Jesus invited this confident young fella to delve into the deeper waters of risky behavior. "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." In other words, "Risk everything!"
The man walked away sad. That was asking too much. He trusted too much in all of his possessions. He just couldn't bring himself to take such a risk.
That's what Jesus asks of each of us: To risk those things we hold most dear, the things we value in this life. Jesus is looking to us to risk everything we've come to depend upon for our own self-worth and value.
What is He asking you to risk? Will you?
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