Faithfulness with the gifts God has entrusted to us.
Faithfulness with the gifts God has entrusted to us.
This Blog is intended to encourage Christians to use the gifts which they have been entrusted with for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. Each Christian has been gifted by God with spiritual gifts, which we are to use for Jesus glory; we are not to bury them.
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luk 19:11-27
This parable is similar to other parables, in which the Lord uses money entrusted by a king or landholder to his workers. That shows us that the Lord used the same basic ideas and parables on different occasions.
The parable speaks of a Nobleman who gives money to his servants, to test their faithfulness, so that he will know who to put in charge of the cities in his newly acquired kingdom.
There are three (3) groups of people in this parable: the workers who were faithful, the one who was not, and the people who hated the king.
There are 2 basic points to the parable:
The main point is for Christians: God has entrusted we Christians with gifts/talents, and then placed before us opportunities, spheres of usefulness, in which to use those gifts and talents. We are to use them for the advancement of his kingdom, not ours, for his benefit, not ours, and our faithful use of those gifts here on earth, during our lifetime, will result in our being giving greater work to do in heaven.
The secondary point is for non-Christians: God will judge those who do not want to submit to God’s rule, think of Psa 2. These are un-believers, people who are in active rebellion against God.
Regarding the main point, Jesus is telling we Christians:
That he gives us gifts, and then provides opportunities for us to use those gifts. The Nobleman calls 10 servants, and gives them each an equal amount of money, and tells them to trade with it; the nobleman is testing each one’s ability, and innovativeness, and self-motivation; he is testing faithfulness and desire to advance his interests. God has given to each Christian gifts, and then spheres of opportunity in which to use those gifts, and we are told similarly to labor for his kingdom’s advance. Our driving force is not to be the advancement of our interests, nor to be in competition with other Christians, but to advance Jesus gospel kingdom.
In the realm of Christian gifts, these would not be natural talents; these are gifts given by the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, see Rom 12 and 1Co 12; but I would not push this too far, and say that our natural abilities and personality are not incorporated into all of this, because the Lord does make us who we are, for his own purposes. The point is the gift comes from him, for the advancement of his kingdom. Peter was the apostle to the Jews, and Paul to the Greeks, that was God’s plan.
Since we are each gifted according to the Lord’s eternal plan for us, it is up to each of us, to know what gift God has given to us, and if we are unsure, to ask him; he is the gift giver. He gave the gift to you, to use for his benefit, so he will surely tell you what it is. See Rom 12:3.
While in the parable, the nobleman puts no restrictions as to where or how the money is to be used, but simply tells them, “Trade until I come back,” we don’t want to ignore the fact that parables “stand on 3 legs” meaning every point does not necessarily have a one-to-one correlation with some underlying truth. While this parable does give us great latitude as Christians in how and where we are to use our gifts, we must never use them in sinful ways, in ways not in accordance with scriptural command or example, or in ways which would bring dishonor to Christ; we are to work in accordance with the guide lines of scripture.
The gifts are given to us for Christ’s benefit; he gains from my work! Every boss expects that; that is how it works. The boss of a construction company, who never lifts a hammer says, “I built that building.” Why would we not expect all of the glory and gain and benefit from our work, to accrue to God?! It is at this point that the one servant greatly errs.
All that is said not at all to condemn, but to encourage you to find out from God what gift he has given to you, what he wants you to do with it, and where he wants you to do it; in short: What did he make you to do and where did he intend you to do it.
Only what is done for Christ will last into eternity. Yes we have to eat, so employment is fine, and not everyone is called by God to be a pastor or missionary or full time Christian worker, but what are you doing with the gifts and talents God has given to you? Are you building with “gold, silver, precious stones, or this wood, hay, stubble” 1Co 3:12?
This parable clearly teaches that there will be rewards in heaven. The faithful workers are rewarded with cities to rule over in the newly acquired kingdom. They were given a few dollars as a test; their reward is greater work to do for their lord. And the point is clearly made that faithfulness with little, will result in both the commendation of God, and in our being entrusted with much more important work in heaven.
Rewards! The reward which accrues to the Christian is greater responsibility in heaven! “He said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful with little, take authority over ten cities.’ The faithful Christian will be given more work to do for Christ! Heaven is a place of work. God is always working, and we will work too; are we to sit and let him serve us? See Luk 17:7-10. Are we rather not to serve him, even in heaven? It will be a privilege to work for God in heaven, whatever that really means. The amount of work we are given to do for him there, will depend on how faithful we are to do for him here on earth, using the gifts/talents he has given us.
I don’t pretend to know all that that means, but it means something, and it means something good, and Jim Elliot’s famous statement is right to the point, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
The reason this is such a pressing question for each of us, is that one of the workers did nothing with the money given to him. There is much debate as to whether this person represents a Christian or a non-Christian. Is he a non-Christian and his unrenewed heart is evidenced by his non-activity and evil words to the Nobleman (a Tare among the Wheat; one saying they have faith, but not evidencing it with works, as per Jam 2:14-26); or is he a true Christian, who simply does nothing with what Christ has given him, being more concerned to advance his interests, rather than Christ’s. He is called “evil,” but also “servant”; so does he represent a Christian? Much of the debate comes from pairing this parable together with the parable of Mat 25, where the servant who did nothing with the money given to him is cast out into “outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth”; words which we would not apply to Christians. I would say the 2 parables, since they do differ, and were told on different occasions, and for different reasons, are not the same; meaning the unfaithful servant of Luk 19 and the one in Mat 25, represent different people.
A word to those who are timid, who think little of themselves, who fear failure, and so do not even try; we say, “It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.” How much truer should that logic be regarding serving Christ: better to try doing something for him, and “fail”, that to have never tried at all! But can there be failure in doing something for Christ? Remember what Jesus said about the woman who simply poured oil on his head, “She hath done what she could.” Christian, do not be afraid of doing something for Christ, small as it may be in your eyes, or even in the eyes of others. Do what you can, you never know how he will use what you think is small (the 5 loaves and 2 fish; the widow’s mite) to accomplish great things.
We have all heard the story of the shoe salesman who witnessed to D.L. Moody, and was instrumental in his salvation, or the man who preached the night Spurgeon “happened” to walk into a church during a snow storm, who could not put together an organized sermon, but simply spoke from Isa 45:22, saying “look and be saved,” and Spurgeon was saved! We don’t know the names of those men, but their “mite” of faithfulness had a measureless impact on the gospel’s advance!
It is a great privilege and honor to be workers together with Jesus Christ. 2Co 6:1
But now regarding the 3rd group of people, those of you who do not want Jesus Christ to rule over you, listen well to the clear warning: “my enemies, bring them here and slay them before me!”
Enemies; those who do not want Christ to rule over them are his enemies. Is that you? Jesus Christ is a king. He has a government, with laws, law enforcers, and a Court/Judgment Day coming. He is the lawful ruler of the universe. If you do not submit to his rule, you are in rebellion against him; you are like the kings and rulers of Psa 2:2-3 “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed (his Christ – Jesus), saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” BUT Psa 2 ends with verses 10-12 “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Act 17:30
All people … everywhere … are commanded … to repent; that includes you.
The Lord tells us in Eze 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
The gospel is an offer of full and free pardon from your sins upon repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, stop being in rebellion!
Why will you die?
2 April 2024