Bible Text: Romans 4:3 | Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Sala | Series: Guidelines For Living | Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Romans 4:3

Risk your money on dice and they call that gambling; risk your money on the stock market and they call that business. But risk your future on God, and they call you a fool. Such was the way it was with a man by the name of Abraham who lived long ago. In the event you don’t remember Abraham, he holds the unique distinction of being loved and esteemed by devotees of three faiths–Jews, Moslems and Christians. Long ago, Abraham lived in Ur in a land which we know today as Ancient Mesopotamia. When God began to speak to Abraham about leaving his home town, people thought of him as a fool. Hebrews 11:8 speaks of his step of faith, saying, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Ur, where Abraham lived, was a nice place. Good schools and hospitals; good stores. Comfortable homes. Ur was a good address to have on your letterhead. When people saw the address on your card, they commented, “You’re from Ur… moving up in the world,” but Abraham left this all behind as he set his sights on an invisible goal.

Could you not but imagine some of the conversations which must have taken place as neighbors said, “We see you are packing up your family, Abraham. Where you headed?” And Abraham says, “Well, you see I’m not sure; I just know that God is leading me.” “Uh-huh,” comments the friend, “How are you going to take care of your family?” He shuffles his feet and says, “Well, I really don’t completely know, but I am sure God will take care of us!”

Oswald Chambers, a man who died an early death in Egypt, once wrote, “I am not many kinds of fools in one; I am only one kind of fool; the kind of fool that believes and obeys God.” That is the kind of a man that Abraham was.

Men and women today who live and walk by faith, like Abraham of old, will always be considered to be out of step with their peers, a kind of fanatic who takes the truth of God’s Word literally. Such have always been in a minority. The writer of Proverbs put it like this, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Those who have heard the call of God on their lives should little expect contemporaries to understand what they are doing; the voice of God is a still, quiet one, often drowned out by ambition and greed and the desire to be in control. The life of faith has always been contrary to the logic of the world, yet obedience to the plan and purpose of God does not require that you have a full knowledge of the game plan; it only demands that you have confidence that He whom you follow knows.

Mrs. Albert Einstein was once asked if she understood the theory of relativity for which her husband was famous, and she replied, “No, but I know my husband, and I know he can be trusted.” Every man’s life makes a statement– mine does; and yours does, just as Abraham’s did long ago. And Abraham’s life statement is this: “God will meet the person who responds to His promises in faith and will trust Him to do what He alone can do.” Some live for gold, some for fame, some for power and influence, but Abraham lived for God. Thinking over the statement of your life, how would you define the message?

Resource reading: Romans 4:18-25