Risk It All

Paul ends his tribute to Epaphroditus with a bold statement: he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life. That word “risking” is a gambling term. It literally means to hazard everything on the roll of the dice.

Epaphroditus didn’t play it safe. He didn’t take the easy road. He laid it all down for the sake of Christ. That’s not recklessness, it’s holy courage. It’s the kind of risk that comes from deep conviction, not impulse. The kind that says, “If it costs me something, but brings glory to God, it’s worth it.”

About a hundred years after Epaphroditus, a group of men and women in the early church took on his legacy. They called themselves the parabolani, which means “the gamblers.” Their mission? To risk their lives caring for the sick, the dying, the imprisoned, and the outcast. In A.D. 252, when a plague ravaged the city of Carthage and most people fled, the parabolani stayed. They buried the dead. They nursed the sick. They saved a city because they were willing to risk everything for the gospel.

You were made for that kind of life. Not a safe one. A significant one.

Every man is wired for adventure. But when we disconnect from God's mission, we settle for lesser thrills. We risk for business deals, fantasy football, video games, adrenaline, lust, or praise. But none of it satisfies. You were made to lay your life down for something greater.

Godly men don’t shrink back. They step up. They speak the truth. They stand firm in temptation. They sacrifice comfort for calling. They give, serve, protect, lead, and love—even when no one’s clapping.

And the world desperately needs more men like that.

Reflection:
What comfort, convenience, or fear is holding you back from living fully for Christ? What’s one bold step of obedience you can take today?