Investing Our Gifts

August 20

(Luke 19:11-27 NIV) ““While they were listening to this, he (Jesus) went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. {12} He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. {13} So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘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. {21} 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.’ {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? {23} Why 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. {27} But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

(Matthew 16:25 NIV) “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

Those who believed that Jesus was the Messiah thought that when He entered Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would arrive. The Romans would be kicked out, and Israel would be restored as the premier nation on Earth. Jesus taught this parable to help them see that it was not going to happen that way. He had come to suffer for our sins. His return as King of kings would come later. Meanwhile, His disciples were to be investing their gifts and showing gain for the Kingdom. Those who profess to be servants but who will not invest, do not really know the Master and will be punished along with those who are openly hostile to Christ. To save your life, you must invest (lose) your life. Jesus is coming back. He will return on His schedule, not ours. Faithful investor servants will be rewarded. Severe judgment awaits those who won’t serve Him. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day