The point is we cannot please God by playing it safe. We must take risks in life. If we don't, we are wicked and lazy. Why does God want me to take risks? Because, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans. 14:23, KJV) And the Bible also says "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6, NIV) If everything is safe, you don't need any faith! Doing nothing is inexcusable. God would rather have you try to serve him and totally blow it, than do nothing. I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and succeed.
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I've said that I want the church to put four words on my tombstone: "At least he tried!" I may not reach all the goals I believe God has given me for my life but it really doesn't matter. What matters is the effort — trying! Trying to make your life count, trying to make an impact with your life, trying to do something significant that is going to outlast you. It's not whether you reach it or not, it's the effort that counts. Doing nothing is inexcusable.
Which person — the person with five talents, the person with two talents, or the person with one talent — was the most likely person to "sit on it" — to do nothing? It was the guy with the one talent. Why? Because this is what typically goes through our minds: "If I'm just a one-talent person, and therefore not a superstar, I'm not going to do anything. I'll let the pros do it. Since I don't have 10 talents, I'm going to do nothing! Since I only have one, I'll just bury it. I'm not going to make any attempt in ministry at all with my life."
I see dull Christians all the time. The fizz, the sparkle has gone out of their life. The Christian life is not a relationship any more, it's a routine. There is no joy like it used to be. Their spiritual life has gone flat. Why?
They are sitting on the sidelines — not in the game — spectating and not participating. They have buried their talents. You get stretched when you're in the game, not sitting on the sidelines saying, "Go team!" God gives the principle of utilization — he expects me to use what he's given me. If I don't it's not just a casual matter. It's flat out wrong to waste my life. I shudder to think of some of the excuses given while standing before our pure Savior — excuses why no attempt was made to get involved helping other people and serving others. Those excuses will seem pretty puny at that point. May I, as your pastor and friend, urge you to seriously consider preparing for that event? Whether you like it or not, it's inevitable.
Why do we play it safe? It's really fear — Satan's favorite tactic. Satan has three kinds of fear: self-doubt, self-pity and self-consciousness. Any time you're sitting on your talent it's usually because of one of those three things.