Danger
in Safety
By Brita Crouse
“Then Jesus
said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me.’”
Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
I am learning that sometimes in
life, it feels easier to “play it safe” than to take risks. However, as our
verse above tells us, as Christians, we should have a very different mindset
about how to live. As easy as it seems to live comfortably, we are called to
follow Christ, which doesn’t necessarily mean living in safety.
The book Crazy Love addresses this
idea of “safe living” with these words:
“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their
personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about
God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from
pain or distress.” [1]
The Bible gives us numerous examples
of Christ-followers who lived for Christ, not for comfort. David hid in caves
as he was pursued by Saul because of his appointment as ruler over Israel.
Moses led an exodus while warding off Egyptians, fielding complaints, and
acting as mediator between God and His people. Paul was imprisoned for doing
the Lord’s work and Peter was crucified for being a follower of Jesus. These
people, by any standard, were not living comfortably, but they were being
obedient to Christ.
My brother has been on a two-month
journey working as an intern with orphanages in Latvia. He has many excuses and
reasons not do to this, (namely, it’s far away and the unstable political
climate in Eastern Europe), but in faith, he has chosen to be obedient. My
parents have received many questions and concerns about his safety also, but
they have taken on the attitude of, “Who are we as parents to tell him to
disobey his Father?”
We have all sorts of things that
lull us into feeling secure, like seatbelts and helmets and financial
stability. It is very important to be wise, but there is danger in “playing it
safe.” It is when we feel comfortable that we forget our true purpose in this
life: to be a follower of Christ.
Let us not exclusively and excessively
concern ourselves with safety, but rather leave the protecting to God. Instead,
let us pray that we, as well as others, would be used by God to further His
kingdom. Let’s take a risk and practice obedience.
GOING DEEPER:
- Listen to “The Cost” by Rend Collective
Experiment. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TxahqbSbU)
- Is there a situation in your life where God
is calling you out of comfort?
FURTHER READING:
Brita recently graduated with her Master’s in
Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has
called Oakwood her home church for the past eighteen years.
[1] Francis Chan, Crazy
Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (Elgin, IL: David C. Cook, 2008),
133.
