DAY #127: Luke 19:11-27

The people still hoped for a political leader who would set up an earthly Kingdom and get rid of Roman domination. The fact that Jesus had been steadily heading toward Jerusalem fueled speculation that he was going there to begin the Kingdom of God. So Jesus wanted to correct this wrong impression. The story in todays passage showed Jesus’ followers what they were to do during the time between Jesus’ departure and his second coming. Because believers today live in that time period, it applies directly to them as well.

In the world of the Roman Empire, when a man was going to become king, he would go to Rome to receive the appointment, and then return to his land to begin his rule. This nobleman was called away. Since this trip could take several months, the man in this parable made sure that his financial situation did not become stagnant while he was gone. He gathered ten servants and gave them ten pounds of silver to invest for him while he was gone, each servant receiving one pound.

In these words, Jesus was making it clear that there would be a time interval between his presence with them and the time when he would come to set up his Kingdom. Like this king, he would go away to a distant country (heaven) and would be gone for an undetermined amount of time. In the meantime, his servants here would be given responsibilities to handle.

The king in this parable had subjects who hated him and did not want him made king. After his return, he called in the servants to give an accounting for what they had done with the money and what their profits were. He fully anticipated that they had made more money with his money through wise business and investments.

The first servant reported a tremendous gain—he took the money entrusted to him and made ten times the original amount. The king, knowing that his servant had been trustworthy and wise with that fairly small amount of money, told this servant he would be entrusted with far more responsibility. So the king made him governor of ten cities. The servant would share in his master’s rule because he had shown faithfulness with the little that had been entrusted to him.

A time of accounting will come for all believers. Christians can know they are saved and will be with God in his Kingdom, but they will be judged for how they have used what God has entrusted to them during his absence and their time on earth. God will reward faithful servants.

The second servant also had a gain—not as much as the first, but still he had done a fine job and was commended by the king. This servant also was rewarded in proportion to his ability—five cities for earning five times the original amount.

We are not told of the other seven servants, but this third servant received mention because of his failure to do what his master had expected of him. There would have been only two groups: those who used the master’s money well (the amount they made seems to have been inconsequential), and those who did nothing, as this servant here who brought back only the original amount. He had hid it and kept it safe. This servant was afraid of the master, and that fear had led him to inactivity. He was afraid that his master expected too much, so he did nothing at all. Perhaps there was a bit of anger that he had to do all the work, while the master took the profits—taking what wasn’t his.

Like the king in this story, God has given you gifts to use for the benefit of his Kingdom. Some people, like this servant, don’t mind being identified in a nominal way with Jesus, but when given responsibility or expectations, they refuse to do anything and do not want to be made accountable to God. Are you willing to use faithfully what he has entrusted to you?

The king took the money away from the faithless servant and gave it to the one who had proved to be responsible with it. Although the others standing around wondered why the king would give more to the one who already had the most, the king was acting wisely in giving more resources to the most effective servant. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given so they can continue to produce. Those who are unfaithful - because they refuse to take advantage of any opportunities they have - will end up losing even what they had been given.

The parable ends with the ultimate judgment on those who had actively rebelled against the king. They would be slaughtered. When Jesus returns, his enemies will be judged and sentenced to eternity without him.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, I want to be faithful. Until your return or until the day I breath my last, I want to be faithful to Your call on my life and faithful to Your commands in scripture. Lord, I am so grateful for the ministry You have entrusted me with. I am so thankful for COV and the family You have built here. Lord, it is such a privilege to pastor here. Lord, raise up a church where every single person - adults, students,children - have a desire to be faithful to the call You have out on their lives.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.” Colossians 1:16 (MB)

“It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open.” Acts 10:35 (MB)