Luke 19:11-17: Use it or lose it!(please click for todays passage)

I see a natural flowing on from the story of Zacchaeus to the next bit of teaching (see verse 11: ‘While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable…’)We are entrusted with gifts, talents, abilities, possessions, money etc so that we may invest these things for God, and He will then see a return on the investment. That, at least, is how it should work. We put what He gives us ‘to work’ (13) in order that there might be ‘gain’ from it (15; see also 23). I wrote a question in one of my Bibles some years ago, ‘Will my ‘mina’ of teaching produce more teachers?’ It challenges me still.

At the end of the day there will be an accounting for what we have done with the precious lives and resources entrusted to us. In the Kingdom of God, the reward for faithful service is more service (16-19). The reward here seems out of all proportion to the original trust – one mina leading to 5 or 10 cities. But that’s how it works in the Kingdom. But there can also be loss for those who waste what they have; who squander their opportunities (24-26). As for those who reject King Jesus – let them read verse 27 with the realisation that they cannot refuse His reign without experiencing His judgment.

There’s a historical incident reflected in this parable, and it shows that Jesus knew His times and spoke to them with relevance. Archelaus, the son of King Herod (see Matthew 2:1, 22) went to the Roman emperor after his father’s death to confirm his succession to his father’s throne. But a delegation of Jews went after him and appealed to the emperor that Archelaus should not be their King. As a result, the emperor reduced Archelaus’ authority. Later, Archelaus persecuted the Jews who had opposed him. They paid for their rejection. 

Prayer: ‘I give thee back the life I owe that in thine ocean depths it’s flow may richer, fuller be.