ON TAKING RISKS

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 26

ON TAKING RISKS

OUR WEEKLY SERMON “ Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”—Luke x., 3. It was a service involving tremendous risks upon which the Master was sending the chosen seventy. How great those risks were might be understood by reference to the context of the text. There were other occasions when the twelve were warned of persecutions which would follow in the wake of their preaching the Gospel and establishing the Kingdom of God. Subsequent events revealed the truth of the prophecy, for persecution, imprisonment, and even death was the ultimate price for the risks taken to be loyal to the new truth as set forth in the teaching and person of Jesus Christ. Because the disciples were willing to incur the risks, they experienced the unspeakable joy of helping to establish the Kingdom of Righteousness in the Hearts ot the people. —■ RISKS LIB IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS. Thanks to the pioneers who have laid foundations in new countries! They accepted the inevitable risks, and were glad for their challenge. Many inventions and discoveries which have been for the welfare of the human race also have thrown down the gauntlet and chllenged men to tremendous risks in their pioneering work. In the realm of science not a few have surrendered lieqlth and even life itself. The wonders of radium, for instance, have not been lightly revealed. Brave men have suffered terrible injuries and endured great pain, and many have given life ■itself in order that the. secrets of this mysterious substance might be released for suffering humanity. They saved others; themselves they could not save. This example can lie multiplied many times, for the scientist’s laboratory is not without its sacred memories of the devotion of those who are entitled to bo known as heroes. All have known of the risks involved in seeking to wrest the secrets which were needed for the welfare of the human race. The challenge of aviation risks demanded superb courage in the early pioneers, but men were never found wanting in response. So in every other realm risks of on© sort or of another lie in the way of progress; they are inevitable. Not to the fearful, timorous, spineless individual, but to.him of an audacious daring is the way of progress open. To youth, strong and virile, the challenge to venture and risk makes a strong appeal, especially in view of a worthy objective. There were comparatively few who were not prepared to leap into the tremendous risks of the Great War. They dared to suffer broken health, maimed limb, and even death for King and country and all that was dear to them. These are but illustrations in the physical, material, and transient life of the fact that risks lie in the way of all progress. However, they point with unerring accuracy to the samo fact to bo found in tho spiritual realm. To lift the spiritual life of the people on to a higher plane was the object of Jesus Christ. But it involved risks, for His teaching was at variance with the religious bigotry and hypocrisy of His day. Those risks Ho accepted and paid the price, but His teaching and truth won through. Tho progress of that truth ever since has made demands no less exacting. The Apostlo Paul pushed on in a long experience of missionary work; but only a man of a tremendous courage and an undaunted faith could have "faced such risks.. Livingstone, Moffat, Chalmers, and. a host of other missionaries also realised to the full that they must accept great risks if the Kingdom of God was to make progress. To face risks in the venture of faith remains still an imperative demand for the progress of the church in the affairs of tho Gospel. DANGEROUS AND UNNECESSARY RISKS.

No man of strong character desiring to face life with all its issues would ever hope to escape its risks. Not a few, however, take risks that are unnecessary and often dangerous. To walk the narrow parapet of a high bridge or a skyscraper, urged by a spirit of bravado, is to court disaster. Risks undertaken when there is nothing worthy to be gained simply open the door that often leads to tragedy. What worthy thing,_ for instance, is to bo gained by drinking and gambling? In view of the long and terrible records of both we venture to say that to tamper with either is to take risks that are unnecessary and dangerous, and about as sensible as a child playing with fire. Insurance companies may take “ risks,” but their business is based on experience and returns substantial profits. In matters affecting our moral life we shall be wise to set the safeguards which experience teach**; to bo in the interests of our security. The headstrong youth who refuses discipline, is deaf to warnings, flings restraints to the winds, and rushes into dangerous and unnecessary risks, is heading for a terrible disaster to his moral and spiritual life. In the realm of business what warnings fill volumes! Men have risked, and they have achieved, but at a terrible price. Their business methods have been crooked and their juggling with figures has been clever, and they knew tlje risks they were running; for one false step and the crash would come. Many have won through, but at what a cost! They may have evaded the laws of the country; but before tho higher laws of life they stand condemned. They took the risks which were unnecessary and dangerous; they achieved, but tho price is terrible. Some have been caught red-handed, and have had to suffer not only tho penalties of the law, but also the loss of the respect and confidence of their fellows. In onr desire to achieve through unholy risks let us ask ourselves whether we are prepared to pay the price'. VISIONS THAT INSPIRE. Not the visionary, but the man of vision, becomes inspired to accept the risks that bring about glorious results. The vision of nations without the instruments of war brings the representatives of great nations together, and in the words of England’s Prime Minister, there is a sense in which they “must take risks.” Pioneers in all the sciences, cizilisatiou, and in the settlement of new countries have been urged to take risks under the inspiration of tho vision of ultimate results. Missionaries have defied dangers_ because they wore inspired by the vision of a people living in the ignorance and darkness of heathenism being

transformed by the Christian message. “ Where there is- no _ vision the people perisli.” Without it the church can never_ prosper, for she will lack the incentive enabling her to take the risks that lie along the road that leads to worthy achievements. No less severe is the demand of Jesus than was that of Garibaldi, when he told his soldiers of forced marches, of hunger, and of tremendous risks. Loyalty to His own message demanded of Him risks which finally led to the Cross. But the vision of a regenerated world was His constant inspiration. Herein lies the truth for us.