Aaron Blaylock an Arizona-born author once remarked: “The lesson here is temperament. Wanting something is fine but there’s no need to be reckless. If you’ve lost the upper hand in a relationship you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. Taking a relaxed or even an aloof approach sometimes is the wise path. Be cautious though because being indifferent or callous to someone you care about is just stupid. The principle of least interest is like building a fire. You can’t just stack piles and piles of wood on and light a match, you’ll smother it. The fire needs fuel, it needs room to breathe. Put a little space between you and what you want, be willing to let it breathe, and before you know it you’ll be enjoying the warmth and light from the flames.” Matthew 20:26-28 reminds us: It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Dissimulation is defined as concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings or character. It can include disguise, pretense or codology. However, all is not always as it appears. Other concealed factors may change the initial assumption drastically. It can turn deceit or an apparent lack of interest into extreme strength and prosperity.
Luke 19:11-27 reminds us of the parable of the minas which relates: “As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
At first glance, this parable would appear to correlate to the Parable of the Talents referred to in the Gospel of Matthew. (25:14-30) However, they are reputedly regarded as two entirely different parables, but with the same inference. They are similar in practices applied, each requires entrustment with an increase in prosperity, all positive results attained are rewarded. The parable of the minas initially speaks of ten servants but only mentions the fortunes of three. What about the other seven, could they represent us? The main difference in the parables of the talents and that of the minas includes a separate quest in search for a kingdom. This kingdom could deceptively be related to the kingdom of God, and as such, both messages realistically infer that what we sow in life, we reap in heaven. God entrusts us to make the most of life and increase in personal religious wealth for the benefit of God and others. Thus the positive work we do in life, will be rewarded in due time.
If we consider the birth of Christ in more detail, for many it was just another birth of a child in lowly surroundings. However, this dissimulation, in truth eventually revealed that this child was in fact, not as another, but God in human form. Even though He was kingly in stature, He didn’t come to rule as a king would do, but to serve. He was born in a humble stable and lived the majority of His life in humility. He held the extreme power of God in His hands. He could have done anything that He wanted to, He certainly could have destroyed his accusers with one swift blow, but He didn’t. He instead adopted the principle of least interest and allowed Himself to be crucified.
He was, in effect, a misrepresentation of human form, because He was not only perfect, but divine. He entrusted others as He entrusts us. The rest, as per the remaining servants in both parables, is left up to us. James 2:5 confirms: “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” The principle of least interest is a sociological reasoning that the person with the least interest in any relationship, has in fact, the most power. In contrast, it is also said that the ones who possess the most love, possess the least amount of dynamics. However, it is all a question of temperament, which may well be disguised. Humility may give the initial impression of weakness but, in fact, actually displays great strength. Rick Pitino, an American basketball coach once remarked: “Humility is the true key to success. Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and overindulge from the fruits of success. Humility halts this arrogance and self-indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focused and hungry to continue the journey of success.”
In conclusion, humility not only has great strength in itself, it also allows a breathing space for love. Just like gaps in the coals or wood in a burning fire leave sufficient space to encourage the flames of life to rise, by providing sufficient freedom of air to circulate and not smother, so the same applies to life. God gives us sufficient space to think for ourselves, to make decisions, whether they be right or wrong, to comfort us with His love when life doesn’t go according to plan. To allow our smaller flames to reignite to their fullest potential. 1 Peter 5:1-6 reminds us: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”
Amen.
