Luke 19:12-26 (New International Version)
12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a]'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' 14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 17" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' 18"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' 19"His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
20"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' 22"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
24"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 25" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' 26"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.
Footnotes: a. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages.
This is a parable. So when we read it we must be careful. Some of the observations made: The king was only a noble man before he was made king. When he became king, he apparently had higher powers. He gave ten of his servants 10 minas (1 each). His subjects hated him (probably as mentioned by the servant who said he was “a hard man (fierce?)”) The King gave an order before he left: put the money to work (he also called for them to find out what they had earned after he returned). He seemed to expect his money to gain returns (any normal person would) when he came back. 2 scenarios happened here:
There are 2 types of servants and with each type and what they did, something happened to them. Firstly, there are the good servants who abided by the kings order (look it was not a request here. He ORDERED them to invest while he was away). The first gained 10 minas for the mina he was given. The second gained 5 minas for the one he was given. And each of the outcomes, the king put them in charge of 10 cities for the first, and 5 for the second. The king commended: “you have been trustworthy on small matters” in a sense it seems that the order was given to see who abided in him and could be given further tasks (take charge of 10 cities, it’s not an easy task to manage a city I think).
If I were to put myself in the kings line of thought, it seems as if the small task of investment is an indicator of who is suitable for future bigger tasks that I can entrust to.
And then there’s the case of the servant who hid the mina he was given, and did nothing about it. He said:” I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' It seems as if the servant gave an excuse, that the king takes from him what he did not put effort into (sowing) but gains from others. But He is the king! And he had a furious response to the servant: u wicked servant, since you knew what sort of a man I am, (are you not scared?) why didn’t you even put the money in bank so that it earn interest till I came back? And he ordered that the mina he had given be taken away and given to the good servant.
And the people protested, saying the guy already got 10minas, but the king replied, whoever has will be given more, but whoever has none, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
God’s question in advance:
1) What did you do with my son Jesus Christ? Determines where we spend eternity
2) What did you do with what I gave you? Determines what we do in eternity
In our daily lives, do we tell God “let Your will be done?” or do we follow our own ways? Do we use whatever we have for God’s purpose or do we use what we have for our own sakes? Do we abide by the Lords orders like those faithful servants, or do we find excuses like the wicked servant? Have we used what we have in life for our selfish indulgence?
**for more information read this: http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/19_11-27.htm**"
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