"Don't take risks... You're awesome."
I read this tag line on an advertisement displayed in one of the University of Michigan student bookstores. It's for an online service which allows students to order their textbooks ahead of time instead of waiting last minute and "risking" not being able to get what they want. Seems like a helpful business, but I couldn't help but be turned off by their whole advertising scheme.
Another one of their tag lines:
"Don't take risks because risk is stupid"
Really? At best, this whole idea of "playing it safe" and "taking control of your life" is delusional. Sorry to bust your bubble, but life doesn't roll like that. I thought most people over the age of 2 knew this - that we seldom get our way...
Without taking risks, we will just live to survive and carry out a self-centered, mediocre life. Fixed ways of life are always safe, but allows little room for faith. And by constantly thinking that we're "so awesome"... well, personally, I don't need any more superficial ego-boosts. I'm already helplessly proud, thank you very much. This whole not risking, you're awesome business is so comforting and safe but totally opposite of the Gospel, anti-God.
We're constantly bombarded by these advertisements that sustain an illusion - a detachment from reality. It is in this illusion where I get lost and full of myself - the perfect breeding ground for pride.
Humility is recognizing who I really am in light of who God is and His great mercies. That I did nothing to gain salvation, but in order to obtain the fullness of life that I have to be willing to risk it all for the Christ who gave His all.
Heart check:
"...we rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if anyone has reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have more!...
I once thought these things [background, experience, abilities, achievements] were valuable but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"
- Philippians 3:3b-4, 7-11 (NLT)
