Risk It All

When Comfortable Christianity Isn’t Enough

It’s easy to help others from the safety of our “climate-controlled” lives. We serve when it’s convenient. We give when it doesn’t stretch us too far. We pray when the need doesn’t require us to actually get involved.

But here’s a question worth wrestling with: Have you ever pushed beyond your comfort zone to serve someone in need?

As Rick Warren reminds us in The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about you.” These four words cut through our self-centered existence. They reveal where our hearts truly lie, whether God holds first place, others come second, and we’ve rightfully positioned ourselves third.

The Foundation of Covenant

Over fifteen years of walking with Christ, I’ve discovered that God doesn’t just call us to individual acts of service. He calls us into covenant, with Him first, then with others, especially in marriage.

As Rick Warren teaches, “Love sincerely… Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other” (Romans 12:9-10). Strong marriages aren’t just good for couples; they strengthen entire communities. Throughout history, when marriages have been strong, nations have flourished.

Every significant risk I’ve taken to serve others began with a conversation with my wife. These decisions ripple through our family, our covenant together. God uses marriage as a laboratory for learning to love, to think of someone else’s needs before your own. Before I married, I thought I understood love. But love isn’t just a feeling. Love washes the dishes. Love takes out the garbage. Love puts the other person first, day after ordinary day.

Whether you’re married or single, God uses relationships to build your character and prepare you for Kingdom service. Single people who are godly and others-focused play critical roles in flourishing cultures. The point isn’t your marital status. It’s learning to love, because God is love.

When Faith Meets Reality

The risks I’m talking about aren’t reckless. They’re informed risks, bathed in prayer, and confirmed through wisdom. When God stirs my heart, I pray, seek counsel, and talk to my wife. I want to ensure I’m following God’s will, not my own impulses.

Once I’ve discerned God’s leading, I move forward anchored by two truths:

• First, I trust God with the outcome. Romans 8:28 promises that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
• Second, I must be willing to take the same risk again, even if the outcome hurts. If I’m only willing to serve when success is guaranteed, I’m not trusting God; I’m trusting circumstances.

Recently, I co-signed an auto loan for a U.S. veteran who needed transportation to keep his job. My wife supported this decision. His credit was destroyed. No one else would help. We have a tender heart for veterans, and if a simple act of faith could help him keep his livelihood, we wanted to be that person. The worst case? Paying $20,000 for a car we didn’t need.

We bought the car on a Friday. Monday was perfect. He arrived on time and worked productively. Then on Tuesday, he didn’t show. Wednesday brought an excuse. Days later, his mother died. Grief consumed him. Depression pulled him under. Even with a reliable car, he couldn’t show up for work.

The employer showed remarkable grace, but on January 23rd, less than a month after we bought the car, he was terminated.

God in the Mess

I recovered the vehicle. Now I’m working to exit the loan, possibly paying it off entirely tomorrow to protect my credit. It’s a financial burden.

But here’s what I see: God is working in this mess.

Romans 8:28 doesn’t promise everything will work out how we hoped. It promises God will work all things, even painful, costly things, for good.

My wife and I would do it again. Not because we enjoy financial loss in a year when we’ll have two children in college, but because it was the right thing to do. Someone needed help. We had capacity. We sought God. We acted in faith.

The outcome wasn’t what we envisioned, but God’s plan is bigger. Our prayer isn’t “Why?” but “How will You use this for Your glory?”

This experience reinforced something crucial: I couldn’t have taken this risk alone. The strength to move forward, the wisdom to discern, the resilience to handle disappointment, all built on covenant marriage. My wife didn’t just tolerate this decision. She partnered in it. When things went sideways, we processed together, prayed together, and recommitted to trusting God.

Your Turn

Here’s my challenge: Step beyond your climate-controlled life.

Ask God where He’s calling you to take an informed risk to serve someone in genuine need. It might not involve money. It might require your time, reputation, comfort, or pride. But whatever it costs, be willing to do it again, even if the outcome disappoints.

If you’re married, have that conversation with your spouse. Build covenant relationships where you can step out in faith together. If you’re single, find believers who can walk with you, pray with you, and hold you accountable.

Remember: it’s not about you. It’s about a God who took the ultimate risk, sending His Son into a broken world to die for people who didn’t deserve it. If He’s willing to risk everything for us, what are we willing to risk for Him?

When things don’t go according to plan, hold fast to Romans 8:28. Trust that God is working all things for good. Keep walking in obedience.

The Gospel isn’t comfortable. It’s a costly invitation to die to self and live for Christ. It’s a call to pick up your cross and follow Him, even through disappointment and loss.

But it’s also an invitation into the most meaningful, purpose-filled, eternally significant life you could ever imagine.

So, push beyond your comfort zone. Take the risk. Trust God with the outcome.

And watch what He does in the mess.

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What risk is God calling you to take today? Share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your story.