The risk of taking no risks “Chase The Lion” (2 Samuel 23:20-22)Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the beast and killed it. Scripture doesn’t tell us what he was doing or where he was going when he encountered the lion. It does reveals his gut reaction. And it was gutsy. Our reaction would be to run away as fast as we can.
Normal people take flight. Lion chasers are a different breed. They don’t see 500 pound problems. When opportunity roars, they grab life by the mane.
If your in a pit with a lion on a snowy day, you’ve got a serious problem. Most likely the last problem you’ll ever have. You must admit that, “I killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day” looks might good on your resume if your applying for a bodyguard position with the king of Israel.
Benaiah did land a job as David’s chief bodyguard. He climbed all the way up the ladder to become Commander in Chief of Israel’s army~the second most powerful person in the kingdom.
Benaiah did land a job as David’s chief bodyguard. He climbed all the way up the ladder to become Commander in Chief of Israel’s army~the second most powerful person in the kingdom.
The genealogy of his success can be traced back to a decision that would shape his destiny: Run away or give chase.”
Regrets and Omission
Your biggest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you did not chase. According to the research of social psychologists Tom Gilovich and Vicki Medvec, over the short term, we tend to regret actions~things we did that we wish we hadn’t. But over the long haul, we tend to bemoan inactions~things we didn’t do but wish we had.
Your biggest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you did not chase. According to the research of social psychologists Tom Gilovich and Vicki Medvec, over the short term, we tend to regret actions~things we did that we wish we hadn’t. But over the long haul, we tend to bemoan inactions~things we didn’t do but wish we had.
We all have our fair share of action regrets. I’m convinced that if we don’t decide to change now, our deepest regrets at the end of our lives will be the risks we didn’t take, the opportunities we didn’t seize, the dreams we didn’t pursue.
Gutsiness and Godliness
Gutsiness, which manifests in different ways, is a big part of following Christ. It’s challenging the status quo. Daring to be different. Refusing to play things safe. Think about it, no one was more gutsy than Jesus. He wasn’t afraid of offending powerful religious leaders. He defied social mores by reaching out to touch lepers~some of society’s most revile outcasts~and restore their dignity. Unconcerned about His reputation, He boldly befriended and defended prostitutes, tax collectors, and outsiders who came to Him looking for new life. There was nothing remotely passive about Christ.
Gutsiness, which manifests in different ways, is a big part of following Christ. It’s challenging the status quo. Daring to be different. Refusing to play things safe. Think about it, no one was more gutsy than Jesus. He wasn’t afraid of offending powerful religious leaders. He defied social mores by reaching out to touch lepers~some of society’s most revile outcasts~and restore their dignity. Unconcerned about His reputation, He boldly befriended and defended prostitutes, tax collectors, and outsiders who came to Him looking for new life. There was nothing remotely passive about Christ.
As Dorothy Sayers says, “The people who crucified Jesus didn’t do so because He was a bore. Quite the contrary, He was too dynamic to be safe. We have declawed the Lion of Judah and made Him a house cat." OUCH…
As the old saying goes; “No guts, no glory.”
When we lack the guts to live by faith, we’re robbing God of the glory He wants to reveal to the world through us. He said, “…The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Future and Present
At some point, most of us stop creatively forging our way into the future and start reliving and repeating the past. We stop acting on the dreams of our God~given imagination and start reacting to our narrowly focused memory. We stop chasing lions and start running from them. The rest of your life can be shaped by the decision to give chase rather than run away. As was true of Benaiah.
At some point, most of us stop creatively forging our way into the future and start reliving and repeating the past. We stop acting on the dreams of our God~given imagination and start reacting to our narrowly focused memory. We stop chasing lions and start running from them. The rest of your life can be shaped by the decision to give chase rather than run away. As was true of Benaiah.
What lion is God calling you to chase? Maybe it’s time to go on the mission trip that would require sacrifice. Loosen your grip on personal time and mentor someone. Swallow your pride and reconcile a relationship. Quit dragging your feet and ask her to marry you. Take a night class. Take a week off and take your family on a fun vacation. Go see your parents. Commit to following Chrrist wherever He leads you. Chase the lion!
I will quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
I will quit focusing on self-preservation and be willing to take risks.
I will quit trying to be who I’m not and start being myself.
I will quit holding out or holding back.
I will quit running away.
I will burn sinful bridges and blaze new trails.
I will NOT let what’s wrong with me keep me from worshipping what’s right with God.
I will go after the dream He’s given me that’s “God-sized” enough to fail without Him.
I will stop complaining and find creative ways to become part of the solution.
I will step out of my comfort zone and value every experience~even the difficult ones.
I will worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.
I will follow Him wherever He leads me.
I will quit focusing on self-preservation and be willing to take risks.
I will quit trying to be who I’m not and start being myself.
I will quit holding out or holding back.
I will quit running away.
I will burn sinful bridges and blaze new trails.
I will NOT let what’s wrong with me keep me from worshipping what’s right with God.
I will go after the dream He’s given me that’s “God-sized” enough to fail without Him.
I will stop complaining and find creative ways to become part of the solution.
I will step out of my comfort zone and value every experience~even the difficult ones.
I will worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.
I will follow Him wherever He leads me.
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