Skin in the Game

Skin In The Game
by Jason Cruise

If you have been following Christ for any amount of time, then
surely by now you have confronted the brutal reality that you serve a God who is
continually calling you to take risks in all matters of life as it relates to
your faith.

In the Parable of the Talents, the master makes what appears to be a risky
move by allowing his servants not only to take large portions of his money, but
also to be entrusted to manage his land while he's away on the journey. Land and
money. The two greatest possessions a master could own. (fyi. a talent was
equivalent to one year's salary) 

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants
and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to
another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.
Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at
once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the
two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went
off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. - Matthew 25:14-18

The servants surely must have felt over-exposed. I know I would have. I'd
have felt an immediate sense of panic to know that, for the first time, I've
been called up to the big leagues. Even though two servants made successful
investments and one did not, surely all three felt, as we say, in over their
head.

The next time ... and there will be a next time ... when God calls you to
stretch beyond your borders remember this simple truth: though you may feel
incredibly vulnerable and ripe for failure, do not believe the lie of the enemy
that you are the one taking the risk. There will never be a time, my brothers,
when you are the one with the greatest amount of skin in the game. Be obedient
and enjoy the journey, the risk was never in your court in the first place.

For God so love the world that He gave His only son ...

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