When Jesus Returns
May 16, 2015//
Topics to Dig Into
[Jesus] said, “[The king] returned and called in the
servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their
profits were.”
servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their
profits were.”
The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money
and made ten times the original amount!’
and made ten times the original amount!’
“’Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant.
You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be
governor of ten cities as your reward.’
You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be
governor of ten cities as your reward.’
“The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money
and made five times the original amount.’
and made five times the original amount.’
“Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five
cities.’ Luke 19:15-19 (NLT)
cities.’ Luke 19:15-19 (NLT)
We set the scene for this parable in
the last post.
Jesus has left us with gifts and instructed us to invest them to increase His
Kingdom. The story continues when Jesus returns and each of us must account for
our actions. It’s time for rewards and consequences. Some call it Judgment Day.
the last post.
Jesus has left us with gifts and instructed us to invest them to increase His
Kingdom. The story continues when Jesus returns and each of us must account for
our actions. It’s time for rewards and consequences. Some call it Judgment Day.
Bravo for the first two good and
faithful servants! We all hope to be in this category. In fact, I’d like the
story to end there. Everyone gets a trophy! But it doesn’t.
faithful servants! We all hope to be in this category. In fact, I’d like the
story to end there. Everyone gets a trophy! But it doesn’t.
“But the third servant brought back only the original amount
of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid
because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting
crops you didn’t plant.’
of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid
because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting
crops you didn’t plant.’
“’You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words
condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and
harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At
least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and
harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At
least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king
ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten
pounds.’
ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten
pounds.’
“’But master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
“’Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what
they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even
what little they have will be taken away.
they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even
what little they have will be taken away.
Luke 19:20-26
The third servant is called wicked
for hiding his gift and gaining nothing. Wicked! Faith without works is a dead
faith – even wicked! The man’s destiny isn’t clear, but he is stripped of
everything and harshly reprimanded.
for hiding his gift and gaining nothing. Wicked! Faith without works is a dead
faith – even wicked! The man’s destiny isn’t clear, but he is stripped of
everything and harshly reprimanded.
It doesn’t seem fair and the other
servants would agree. But this isn’t the only parable Jesus tells that doesn’t
fit within our sense of justice. God doesn’t play by our rules. God defines
justice.
servants would agree. But this isn’t the only parable Jesus tells that doesn’t
fit within our sense of justice. God doesn’t play by our rules. God defines
justice.
Some argue that everyone goes to
heaven. Jesus doesn’t seem to be saying that. Instead, He finishes the story “And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t
want me to be their king – bring them in and execute them right here in front
of me.” Luke 19:27
heaven. Jesus doesn’t seem to be saying that. Instead, He finishes the story “And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t
want me to be their king – bring them in and execute them right here in front
of me.” Luke 19:27
Who are you in the parable? Are you using
your gifts or hiding them? Are you in the delegation that doesn’t want to be
ruled by Jesus?
your gifts or hiding them? Are you in the delegation that doesn’t want to be
ruled by Jesus?
#seedsofscripture
#spiritualgifts #Jesus #truth
#spiritualgifts #Jesus #truth
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Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
Thank you for this. I have encountered those who argue that everyone goes to heaven. This is a great parable to refer to. I pray that I am using my gifts. I ask God daily to use them for His glory. You are using your gift by writing these posts. Thank you