risk taking

⁴If we choose to enter the city, we will die from the famine. And if we remain here, we also will die. Therefore, come and let us flee over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare us, we will live. But if they choose to kill us, we will die anyway.”

⁴Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap. ⁵In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all. ⁶In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.

⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint.

¹⁴For it is like a man setting out on a long journey, who called his servants and delivered to them his goods. ¹⁵And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, yet to another he gave one, to each according to his own ability. And promptly, he set out. ¹⁶Then he who had received five talents went out, and he made use of these, and he gained another five. ¹⁷And similarly, he who had received two gained another two. ¹⁸But he who had received one, going out, dug into the earth, and he hid the money of his lord. ¹⁹Yet truly, after a long time, the lord of those servants returned and he settled accounts with them.

¹Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again. ²Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future. ³If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.

⁵Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.

²⁹For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have in abundance. But from him who has not, even what he seems to have, shall be taken away.

³⁶For how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soul?

¹¹And he said to me: ‘Go forth and walk before the people, so that they may enter and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers that I would deliver to them.’ ¹²And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only that you fear the Lord your God, and walk in his ways, and love him, and serve the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul,

¹⁷In this way, the love of God is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment. For as he is, so also are we, in this world. ¹⁸Fear is not in love. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. And whoever fears is not perfected in love. ¹⁹Therefore, let us love God, for God first loved us. ²⁰If anyone says that he loves God, but hates his brother, then he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he does see, in what way can he love God, whom he does not see?

²⁹And he said, “Come.” And Peter, descending from the boat, walked over the water, so as to go to Jesus.

²⁸For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it? ²⁹Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him, ³⁰saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.’ ³¹Or, what king, advancing to engage in war against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether he may be able, with ten thousand, to meet one who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³²If not, then while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he would ask him for terms of peace.

⁹Behold, I am instructing you. Be strengthened, and be steadfast. Do not dread, and do not fear. For the Lord your God is with you in all things, wherever you may go.”

⁵Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence. ⁶In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.