Wasting Away in Margaritaville

“If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.” – John Piper

A dear friend of mine who pastors a church near Raleigh, North Carolina sent me the following anecdote. It was written by a Christian author named Darryl Dash.

“We’re in Cancun right now on a short vacation before heading to Mexico City to preach. My wife captured our experience this week…”

“We have a cute little space across the road from a public beach in a very Mexican part of town. The internet doesn’t work, the stove doesn’t start, the fridge is leaking, feral cats tear the garbage apart at night and fight, and it’s perfect!”

“She forgot the part where I ended up in a medical clinic the first night due to bashing my toe on the beach. It’s been an adventure, and it’s been amazing.”

“We've avoided big risks but made many small ones: driving instead of taking a shuttle, staying with locals instead of tourists, and eating at a restaurant with no menu and mixed reviews. (The restaurant was amazing, by the way.)”

“I’ve noticed that it’s easy to default to safety rather than taking risks. I’ve felt that pull as I get older. As we age, part of our responsibility is to resist the temptation of a safe, mundane life and continue pursuing meaningful, risky experiences—not just during vacations, but in our daily lives, especially in the things that matter most.”

And THAT, my friend, is why I started Risk Takers for Christ in 2011. I didn’t want me or you to fall into the spiritual trap of living our lives so risk-adverse and mundane. On the contrary, I wanted to challenge others – and by doing so, challenge myself – to stop living so conservatively. We only have one life to live this side of heaven, so why not live it to the fullest for God’s glory?

As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause.” There is NO GREATER CAUSE than serving God, sharing your faith, and spreading the Gospel.

“Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:24-30 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President