What Makes Risk Reasonable?
BIG REWARD REQUIRES BIG RISK
“8 He [Goliath] stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. ” —1 Samuel 17:8–11
1) MASSIVE UPSIDE
DAVID’s reward was the Glory of God and the good of his countrymen… and he gets the girl… and he gets tax exemption!
“24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”” —1 Samuel 17:24–25
ONE MISSOULA CHURCH’s reward is amplified opportunity to reach THE ONE Jesus loves
“7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” —Luke 15:7
2) ACCEPTABLE DOWNSIDE
DAVID’s price of failure was death by giant
“44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” —1 Samuel 17:44
ONE MISSOULA CHURCH’s price of failure was embarrassment
“25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” —Proverbs 29:25
3) MOTIVES WHICH GOD CELEBRATES
DAVID was motivated by his loyal love of God (contra wannabe mind-readers)
“7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his [Eliab’s] appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”” —1 Samuel 16:7
“28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”” —1 Samuel 17:28
ONE MISSOULA CHURCH is motivated by removing obstacles for a culture that judges a book by its cover
“22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” —1 Corinthians 9:22
4) PRECEDENCE & PREPARATION
DAVID was prepared by God to trust Him in do-or-die scenarios
“34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”” —1 Samuel 17:34–36
ONE MISSOULA CHURCH has been prepared by God’s precedence of opening doors at a rate we never envisioned
“11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” —Psalm 77:11–12
5) HUMILTY & HOLINESS
DAVID aimed to live his life in alignment with God’s commands
“22 For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. 24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” —Psalm 18:22–24
ONE MISSOULA CHURCH aims to live in alignment with God’s Word by the power of His Holy Spirit
“12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” —1 Peter 3:12
CONCLUSION: PEOPLE WHOSE ETERNITIES ARE SECURED BY JESUS CHRIST SHOULD BE THE MOST COURAGEOUS RISK-TAKERS IN THE WORLD
“1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” —Proverbs 28:1
How do I give to 1MSO?
The people of One Missoula Church give tangible resources back to God in order to suffocate greed in our own lives and amplify the impact of the Gospel in the lives of others. We’ve removed every barrier and inconvenience to make this sacrificial act as accessible and simple as possible. At present, here are the avenues for this act of devotion:
- Sunday Morning – offering boxes on the communion tables at the back
- Snail Mail – postage-paid envelopes available
- Text “1MSO” to 406-631-3323
- Online at https://onemissoulachurch.com/give
- Via the One Missoula App under the “Giving” tab
