Risky Business

A 1983 movie starring Tom Cruise chronicled a Chicago teenager looking for fun while his parents were out of town. The notion of risky here was putting his parents wrath in play in exchange for some teenage fun. Most peeps attempt to steer away from a risky lifestyle because they are not willing to exchange the displeasure of the world for personal pleasure. Of course the basis for risk here is the exchange of favor of the world for doing things the way the world expects. As I have blogged many times, this is simply carnal mindedness, which is the opposite of what we may think. We have been taught to believe "carnal minded" is the search for pleasure, but that is just hedonism. Carnal minded according to Scripture is seeking our well being by exchanging our behavior with the world to extract for ourselves what the world has to offer us (respect, love, comfort, safety, economic benefit, etc.).

What is risky business for the Kingdom minded peep? Consider that Grace compels us to give with no expectation of return and to receive with  no obligation to return. This suggests that what seems to be risky is really the path of least risk. Grace drives us to "recklessness". What? How so? That doesn't sound Christian, to live recklessly. Isn't that risky business?

"Reckless" means careless, or without care. So, if we don't care about fear, or pride, or hedonism, or worldly security, or comfort, then we seem reckless to the world. In this way Grace makes us reckless and appears as risky business.

Yet, Grace gives us joy, peace, eternal security, love, ........  So when we act in Thanksgiving (not duty) from the Grace we have received we can give, love, share, speak truth, wait, and so forth without any expectation of receiving because we already have everything we need for our well being forever. The world perceives us as risky when we move on the unctions of God because we do not appease the world, but in reality "reckless" Grace is the least risky lifestyle there is.

When you feel constrained from responding as God has prompted you because of what others may think, then you have risked the quality of life that is our privilege as a child of the Kingdom!! Just look at all the actions Jesus took that shocked the world's establishment.

Something to ponder .....