Rewarding the Faithful
Reading: Luke chapter 19 verses 11-27.
Quote: Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6:
“Without faith it is impossible to please God.’”
Quote:
“The word ‘Faith’ in the Bible is spelt ‘R.I.S.K.’”
In the parable before us:
• Nine servants were willing to ‘R.I.S.K.’ that is to demonstrate ‘Faith’;
• While sadly one servant was not.
Ill:
This one servant reminds me of the African impala:
• This creature can jump to a height of over 10 feet;
• And cover a distance of greater than 30 feet.
• Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall.
• The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
• They imprison themselves because they will not exercise ‘Faith’.
• And like this one servant, they take safety as the option but it only imprisons them.
THIS IS A SIMPLE STORY TO UNDERSTAND:
(a).
• Verse 12: The man of noble birth who went on a “journey” is Jesus.
• Even a child could work that one out!
(b).
• In verse 13 ten servants are mentioned;
• But the story soon focuses on just three of them (vs 16 & 18 & 20).
• The three servants who all receive a ‘mina’ (money) are his true followers;
• As we apply this parable this would be symbolic of all Christians (you & me).
Note:
• The story maybe simple;
• But it contains some very important principles that are very applicable for us today!
Seven Principles to Note.
(1). What we have is not ours (Verse 12-13):
“He 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, ’Put this money to work,’ he said, ’until I come back.’”
In Biblical times it was common for wealthy men to take long journeys:
• Before they would leave,
• They obviously had to put their affairs in order;
• They would arrange for someone to look after domestic matters;
• e.g. Take care of the mail & to feed their pets etc.
• But more than that, they would have to put their business affairs in order;
• So that when they returned they not only still had a business but a prosperous one!
So often the owner would delegate:
• Control and responsibility of their wealth to trustworthy employees.
• These employees were expected to bring a return on what had been handed over to them.
• Now given the uncertainties of transportation in those days:
• The time of the masters return for even a well-planned trip was often open-ended.
• The master would return back at an unexpected time.
• So they needed to be diligent, so as to please him when he showed up!
Now here is the point to note:
• There was no doubt in the minds of these servants;
• That the money still belonged to the master.
• They were the possessors, but not the owners.
• Their job was to manage on the masters behalf, what they were given.
Application for us today is the same:
• We must remember that everything we have has been given to us by the Lord;
• And it is not really ours anyway – we are stewards.
Ill:
Pearl of great price drama sketch.
• Remember it’s mine but you can wear it for me,
• You can spend it for me etc, etc.
In the normal Christian life, we need to remember that:
• Jesus is the Master and I am the manager.
• Jesus is the benefactor, I am the recipient.
• We must never forget this important truth,
• That everything we have belongs to the Lord;
Ill:
• Our days are in His hands.
• Our gifts and abilities are on loan from Him.
• Our money is an “advance” from the Almighty.
• Our houses, cars, clothes, and every possession we have doesn’t belong to us.
• It is all his and we are given it to enjoy and to invest.
• For our pleasure, to the benefit of others and most of all for his glory.
(2). We are all given responsibility (vs 13):
“So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas, ’Put this money to work,’ he said, ’until I come back.’”
Question: What do we mean by the word “mina”?
Answer:
• I would Suggest that the ‘mina’ is symbolic;
• It can refer to money, to spiritual gifts, or to opportunities of service that come our way.
• So think beyond money;
• Let the word ‘mina’ be symbolic of all the other things God has given us.
(3). A day of accountability is coming (vs 15).
"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants......”
• Verse 15 reminds us that the master is returning!
• And he is returning with greater authority than he appeared to have before!
• "He was made king”
• Note: Jesus is coming again and there will be a day of reckoning.
• While most of us believe this in our heads, we don’t always live it out by our actions!
• If we would think more about His return,
• We would be more focused on making an eternal return on our investments.
Quote Daniel Webster was asked:
“What is the greatest thought that can occupy a man’s mind?”
He replied: “His accountability to God”
• Remember in New Testament times When this parable was literally lived out
• It was the duty of servants to always bear in mind that the master would be returning;
• And when the master came back;
• He would settle his accounts with them.
Application for us:
• The New Testament makes it very clear;
• That each Christian (you & me included) will one be judged by Jesus.
Quote: Romans chapter 14 verse 12:
“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Quote: 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
• Remember this judgement will not affect the Christians salvation,
• That was settled 2,000 years ago at the cross.
• But it will definitely affect the Christians reward!
• And it will also affect our future service for Christ in his coming kingdom.
• We are not going to heaven to sit on clouds and play little harps.
• We are going to serve the king in his kingdom!
That future service will be affected by our earthly service:
• How did we used our time,
• How did we our money,
• How did we use our natural talents,
• How did we use our spiritual; gifts,
• How did we use the gospel message, which he has entrusted to us.
• How did we contribute to our local fellowship, which is HIS church!
• The question will be: did you invest in these things wisely?
• May our answer be yes!
• I want to hear those words: ’Well done, good and faithful servant!
• I don’t want to enter his presence in embarrassment & disappointment.
(4). We must invest what we have been given (Vs 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.”
(a).
• Verse 16: tells us that the first man summoned by his master;
• Didn’t waste his money - he invested it well and gained ten more coins.
• That’s a thousand percent profit!
(b).
• Verse 18: tells us that the second man summoned by his master;
• Didn’t waste his money - he too invested it well and gained five more coins.
• That’s a five hundred percent profit!
(c). Verse 20-21: describes the different approach of the third servant:
"Then another servant came and said, ’Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 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’”
• In contrast to the first two servants who had been busy working for their master;
• This third servant appears to be a slacker,
• Instead of working on his masters behalf;
• He wraps it in a bit of cloth and hides it.
Application for us:
Quote:
“Our potential is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to Him”.
Ill:
• Because Antonio’s voice was high and squeaky,
• He did not make the tryouts for the Cremona Boy’s Choir.
• When he took violin lessons, the neighbours persuaded his parents to make him stop.
• Yet Antonio still wanted to make music.
• His friends gave him a hard time because his only talent was whittling.
• When Antonio was older he served as an apprentice to a violinmaker.
• His knack for whittling grew into a skill of carving and his hobby became his craft.
• He worked patiently and faithfully.
• By the time he died, he left over 1,500 violins,
• Each one bearing a label that read, “Antonio Stradivarius.”
• They are the most sought-after violins in the world;
• And sell for more than $100,000 each.
• Antonio couldn’t sing or play or preach or teach but his responsibility was to use his ability,
• And his violins are still making beautiful music today.
• Quote:
• “Our potential is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to Him”.
(5). What we do with what we have reveals our view of God (verses 21-22).
“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? 23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’”
Notice: The way the servants viewed the master affected their service:
• In verses 16 & 18 & 20 all three servants address the master in exactly the same way;
• They call him “Sir” and refer to the money as “His”.
• In verses 17 & 19: The master increased their resources;
• And they were given even greater things to do for him.
IN contrast:
• The third servant probably approached his master a little bit more reluctantly;
• Note his words in verse 21: “I was afraid of you because you are a hard man.”
This third guy had a wrong view of the master:
• In verse 21: He looked at him as someone who was hard and harsh,
• Instead of seeing him as the provider of employment (wages & food);
• He saw him as a user and a taker:
• “Taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow loving and gracious.
Notice:
• To excuse his laziness and bad judgement,
• He tries to lay the blame on the master.
• He is trying to make out that the master is some kind of hard task master:
• But there is nothing in the story to support his claims.
• Remember he has entrusted ten servants with a large amount of money;
• They were given the freedom to use it whatever way they liked.
• He did not interfere in any way with them;
What’s more in the story:
• The master even gives the first two servants a generous reward.
• Far from being exploitative and ruthless, this man is a generous benefactor.
Quote: A.W. Tozer was right when he said that:
“What we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
• A wrong view of God always leads to fear.
• A right view of God always leads to faith.
Just scan over the differences between the three servants:
• The first two were determined to make a profit;
• The third was determined to not take a loss.
• The first two were willing to work hard and take risks;
• The third took no risks.
• The first two received the gift;
• The third refused the gift.
• The first two wanted to advance the master’s domain;
• The third had no interest in what mattered to the master.
• The first two viewed the money as an opportunity;
• The third guy saw it as a problem.
• The first two allowed the master’s gift to change their lives;
• The third refused to let the gift touch his life.
• The first two invested;
• The other one wasted.
• The first two saw a blessing;
• The third guy saw a burden.
• The first two knew the master;
• The third guy had no clue.
(6). What we have we must use or what we have we will lose (Verse 22-26):
(The Message):
22-23"He said, ’You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly—and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’
24"Then he said to those standing there, ’Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.’
25"They said, ’But Master, he already has double . . .’
26"He said, ’That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
• The master saw right through the flimsy excuses of the useless servant
• Look at what he calls him, “You wicked servant!”
• These are pretty strong words, but the man was wicked because;
• He deliberately misrepresented both his master and himself.
• He falsely accused the master of being harsh;
• And he lied when he said in verse 20: “here is your mina.”
• He actually owed his employer not only the one coin,
• But (verse 23 tells us) also whatever interest it would have earned in the bank.
• Yet amazingly, instead of owning his guilt,
• He behaves as if the master should have given him credit for having been so cautious.
• Now because this third guy did not use what He had been given,
• Verse 24 says he lost it.
• “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.”
• It’s the “use it or lose it” principle.
There is a principle here that also applies to many areas of life:
• Ill: An athletes muscles and skill will diminish &weaken without training & competition.
• Ill: An artists creativity will shrivel up and be lost if the imagination is not stretched!
• The principle is clear: the more we exercise that proficiency and that gift/talent etc;
• The greater it will become.
• But if we neglect that natural ability or spiritual gift etc and do not practice or use it,
• It sadly will deteriate and almost die!
The two servants who were faithful with their talents:
• Were promoted by God, they started as servants and were promoted to rulers.
• Because they were faithful with a few things, God trusted them with many things.
Regarding your ‘mina’ that God has given you:
• Will you be productive and put it to work;
• Or will you keep it hidden away – out of sight?
Ill:
• One day while walking with some children,
• Queen Mary was caught by a sudden down pour of rain.
• She quickly took shelter on the porch of a near by home,
• As the rain continued to rain.
• The queen was wearing a hat that partly covered her face;
• And she was also wearing some very plain clothes.
• She decided to knock at the door;
• But not reveal her identity.
• And so she knocked at the door and asked to borrow an umbrella.
• Emphasising the fact: “I’ll send it back tomorrow”.
• The homeowner, reluctant to give a stranger her best umbrella,
• Offered her a cast-off she found in the attic.
• One rib was broken and there were several holes in it.
• Apologizing, she turned it over to the monarch, whom she did not recognize.
The next day the house-holder had another visitor:
• It was a man with gold braid on his uniform and an envelope in his hand.
• After revealing the identity of the mysterious visitor, he said:
• “The queen sent me with this letter,
• And also asked me to thank you personally for the loan of your umbrella.”
• Stunned, the woman burst into tears, crying.
• “Oh, what a fool I have been I have missed the opportunity to give my very best for the queen,”
In conclusion Remember:
• The focus of the parable is not on the master (God);
• It is not teaching us new truths regarding his character.
• It is not on judgement;
• It is not a parable designed to teach us regarding eternal destinies.
• The main focus of this parable is on the three servants;
• And on what they did with what they had been given.
• It is a reminder that one day they will be called to account as to how they used that talent.
• The challenge for us tonight is; “How are we using out talent!”
