Take courage!

Most of us want minimum risk and maximum return, but the investment advisors know those two desires don’t really go together.

When investing money in the market for retirement, the consultant will always ask for you to identify your risk tolerance.  Based on your risk tolerance you should choose your investments.  Unfortunately, the more aggressive choices are also the most volatile.

I’ve often wondered how do we measure risk tolerance?  How do people answer that question?  Most people think they know themselves so they just toss out their answer.  Wanting to appear wise I would tell the advisor I’m conservative and want only moderate risk, but inwardly I’m really impatient and want investments to pay off quickly.   It’s seems a compromise to my gut to invest in a sure bet that does nothing, only because I want to play it safe.  I would venture to say many of us have this same tension within, and it tends to holds us back from doing anything.   Why?  Because a big risk seems too big and a small risk seems too boring.

The truth is, a bigger risk is guarded, and mainly by fear.  Mind you, there could be lesser guards as well: guardians of work, responsibility, loss of comfort and loss of freedom.  But the fear of failure is the most ominous.

The fear of failure is usually compounded if you’ve been forced to taste failure before.  Once you’ve been forced to taste failure it’s hard to get the taste out of your mouth.

Does fear of loss or the fear of failure keep you from taking risk?  Investing yourself in activities that might pay off?

What’s the solution?   For the follower of Jesus, the solution is the Word of God.  When you have God’s word on something it eliminates the risk of stepping out.  Even though natural circumstances say you are at risk, the Word from God insures the outcome.  Because of this, you aren’t really going out on a limb at all, regardless of how it appears.

This is why hearing from God is so vital, rich and important.  His word is the basis for all our steps of faith.  Make your prayer times, your meal times and your fasting times to be times of listening well.  Record what He says, for it is the power to overcome the fear of failure and all the power of the enemy.

1 John 5:4 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Romans 10:11 – For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Take courage through your prayer!

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One Response

  1. The gate to success is discerning it’s Gods or the enemies word. A few times in my life I have gone with the enemies word only to fail.
    Pastor, give us your comments on discernment.