The Danger of Living a Safe Life
Safety…something we all want and need. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to live in safety.
We do what we can to protect our family, home, and life. We make severe weather plans or fire escape plans to be prepared in the event of an emergency.
It’s perfectly normal and rational to want to live a safe life.
Have you ever considered, though, that we try to live safe lives in other ways?
Isn’t it normal to want to do things that make us comfortable and make our lives easier? Don’t we want to know the potential results of an choice we need to make so we’ll make the right decision?
What if I said there is danger in living this kind of safe life?
The Sunday school class my husband and I are members of has started a new bible study called All the Places to Go by John Ortberg. The purpose of this study is to help us realize God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.
The study points out that it’s often difficult to discern which open door God wants us to take. However, when we seek God’s guidance and wisdom, we can confidently go through the doors He has opened for us and we can live a life of adventure.
One of my favorite parts of the study are the personal stories of ordinary people who trust God and walk through the door they believe God has opened for them. These people didn’t have all the answers before they obeyed. However, every single one of them found a more satisfying and God honoring life through their obedience.
Each of these people made choices to live lives that would impact others and draw them into God’s kingdom. They gave up the safety of steady jobs, certain outcomes, and their comfort zones.
Listening to these stories made me realize how safe my life is…and how dangerous that can be.
Let me share why.
A safe life can lead us to:
1. Miss out on God’s greater plan for us
While some the people in the study did some great and big things like changing jobs, moving to a new city, or starting their own non-profit, it’s not necessary that we do big things to be able to honor God. Obeying God and walking through the small doors He puts before us can still result in life change for us and for those we get to impact.
God has a plan and purpose for each of us. He may call one person to leave all they’ve known and start over someplace new. However, He may call someone else to remain in their physical location but to get out of their comfort zone and minister to the people God has placed in their life.
When we stay in our comfort zone, we miss out on the opportunity to do things that will help others and grow God’s kingdom.
2. Miss out on developing deep relationships with others
I’m an introvert and really enjoy spending time alone. I do crave time with other people, though, and become discouraged if I’m isolated for too long.
Because I’m more comfortable in being alone, I have to make myself schedule time to get together with others. Also, being an introvert makes it hard for me to want to get out and minister to others.
Maybe you’re not an introvert but you are too busy. You’ve cultivated a busy life that has become your comfort zone. You don’t have time to minister to other people.
When we stay in our comfort zones and live a safe life, we miss out on the blessing of community that God has set before us.
3. Miss out on becoming the person God wants us to be
As a believer, my chief goal should be to become more like Christ every day. It’s something I should pursue until the day I die.
If I’m living a safe life, I can’t become like Christ. Jesus lived His life ministering to the kind of people we try to avoid today. He went where the hurting people were no matter how rough the neighborhood or rough the condition of the person.
Living a safe life has its advantages. It’s predictable, somewhat easy, and of course safe.
I don’t know about you, but I want to live a life of adventure. It won’t be easy and it certainly won’t be safe, but it will be worth it. Won’t you join me?
