Risk Takers–Caretakers–Undertakers
Life is composed of three kinds of people. Risk takers—care takers—undertakers. Every church, business, organization, or team has these three kinds of people. It’s important to know which you are, but more important to know that you can change from one of those three kinds of persons to another.
Our nation’s history records the importance of folks who were willing to take a risk. That’s how Columbus, the Puritans, and others got here. They didn’t sail close to the shore—they set out to sea. Caretakers sail close to the shore. Risk takers sail where they can’t see and trust God to take them where they need to be. You can never go where God is leading you if you decide to stay where you are!
Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies checking out the Promised Land. They found giants. They could have suggested staying where they were, and you and I wouldn’t be here today. They were risk takers. The acknowledged the existence of giants, but they trusted God, and affirmed that God was bigger than the giants. They said, “Let’s go forward.” (Numbers 13)
Too many people live their lives in neutral today—just caretakers. It’s easy to become acclimated to things the way they are. If you just keep your car in neutral, there’s a good chance that somebody is going to hit you and provide business for the undertakers. We need to have people who put their lives in drive and let God lead them where they need to go.
Our country desperately needs risk takers. We must begin to stand up and speak up about the evils and the things that divide us. We need people of all ages, races, political groups, and education levels. Everybody is either going to be a risk taker or a caretaker, and if we are not careful, our nation is going to need a lot of undertakers! You cannot sail to new shores until you have the courage to sail and lose sight of the shore behind you.
God is calling us to step up and speak out. The risk is nothing compared to the reward. It’s time to go forward. You will never stump your toe standing still, but moving forward may increase your chance of stumping your toe, but it will greatly increase your chances of getting somewhere. Derric Johnson reminds us that it’s true that rubber bands that are stretched too far will snap, however, rubber bands that aren’t being stretched at all—are useless!
Our world and our nation are going through storms. When the Disciples were in a storm, (Matthew 14:22-32) Jesus came walking across the water. He invited Peter to step out of the boat. That was a risk. Nobody had ever done that before. Peter stepped out and discovered that the water was as secure as the wood in the boat. He walked towards Jesus. But then, Peter took his eyes off Jesus, the One who was turning his risk into a reward. He started to go under. I believe that’s where our country is today. Peter cried out for help and Jesus saved him. That’s what we need to do today!! Only Jesus can save us!
There is a danger that goes with taking a risk. There is the inevitability of some kind of mistakes to be made. Albert Einstein said, “The person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.” Peter made a mistake, but correcting his mistake saved his life. The same can be true for America.
We should be slow to criticize people who have taken a risk and made some mistakes. Moses took a risk, and the people were ready to stone him. In the Bible, most of the people who took bigger risks also took a lot of abuse, but they went forward. If you are going to criticize Peter for his mistake, remember that there were eleven other Disciples who wouldn’t even get out of the boat!
Are you a risk taker, or a caretaker, or an undertaker? What will you be tomorrow?
