using our talents

Good morning friends,
Luke says that Jesus told this parable because people were expecting the kingdom of God to appear immediately. With that introduction, we expect to hear a parable about the kingdom of God. The parable puts that kingdom sometime in the future. The landowner goes to receive royal power. Jesus already has royal power, but it's not obvious. The fullness of power comes to him through the cross and resurrection, but still won't be obvious until he returns again in power at the end of history. During his journey the landowner leaves his servants/slaves with his money to make good use of it. When he returns he judges the efforts of each servant.

The parable invites us to think about how we use our gifts. God gives us different abilities to use while we are alive and before Christ returns in power. We can use them well to make the world a bit more like God's kingdom or we can be fearful and use them poorly or not at all. We can also expect the kingdom to come in the future or reject God's rule. In the end Christ will be king and we will answer for how we used our time and talents.

Blessings on your ministry this week,
Sam

Luke 19:11-27

11As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’

20Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”