Written by Pastor Jack Wellmanorld
– William Carey
For His Glory
If we realize that all we are to do in life is to seek to glorify God, then we might be more willing to take risks. Imagine that you want to serve prisoners or the homeless, but you don’t have the resources. Why not just start doing it on your own, before the resources arrive? God may be waiting for us to take that first step of faith before He sends His provisions. It’s not likely that He will provide the means for us to do something until we first show we’re willing to do something. If it’s for His glory, we know He supports it.
Shows our Trust
When we take great risks for God’s glory and to seek to do what we’re commanded to do for Jesus (Matt 25:34-40), we show God that we’re not afraid of the future, and a man or woman who only fears God and not circumstances, can do much for His kingdom. Where there is no great risk, there will be no great reward. I’m not saying sell your house and become a missionary (although many have done this,) but if you show that you’re faithful even in the little things, He can trust you in the bigger things. The question is, do we trust the God of the universe enough to take great risks for Him? If we do, we show Him that we trust Him, and God will honor that trust of ours.
Radical Christians
Most of the first century world around Judea said that the Christians were turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Perhaps it was really “right side up,” but the world didn’t recognize it because the world is actually upside down from the way God intends it to be. There is no doubt that these early Christians were radical. That’s the type of disciple that Jesus seeks to make. A radical Christian isn’t one who breaks the law but one who obeys God and does things that few others would dare to do. Being radical for God is taking chances for His kingdom and for His purposes, and ultimately, that is for His glory.
Open Doors
Only God can open doors that no man can open and only God shuts what no one can close, so speaking of Jesus, the Apostle John wrote, “What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open” (Rev 3:7), and in speaking of Christ, Isaiah the Prophet wrote, “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Isaiah 22:22). If God opens a door for you, by all means walk through it, and do it right away, because it might close, but if He closes a door, whatever you do, don’t try to jimmy the lock. What He closes stays closed and what He opens stays opened. He is God. We are not.
Conclusion
As William Carey said, “Expect great things from God” and “Attempt great things for God,” and you will be rewarded for that, but only if you do it for His glory and not yours (or mine); only if you take risks for Him to show Him you trust Him; be radically intentional in your walk with Christ; and walk through the open doors that He opens and don’t try to sneak in the window if a door’s closed.
