“Everyone Who Has
Will Be Given More”
Jesus
said, "A man from an important family went to a country far away. He went
there to be made king and then return home. So he sent for ten of his servants.
He gave them each about three months' pay. 'Put this money to work until I come
back,' he said.
"But
those he ruled over hated him. They sent some messengers after him. They were
sent to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
"But
he was made king and returned home. Then he sent for the servants he had given
the money to. He wanted to find out what they had earned with it.
"The
first one came to him. He said, 'Sir, your money has earned ten times as much.'
" 'You have done well, my good servant!' his master replied. 'You have
been faithful in a very small matter. So I will put you in charge of ten
towns.'
"The
second servant came to his master. He said, 'Sir, your money has earned five
times as much.'
"His
master answered, 'I will put you in charge of five towns.'
"Then
another servant came. He said, 'Sir, here is your money. I have kept it hidden
in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take out what
you did not put in. You harvest what you did not plant.'
"His
master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! So you
knew that I am a hard man? You knew that I take out what I did not put in? You
knew that I harvest what I did not plant? Then why didn't you put my money in
the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.'
"Then
he said to those standing by, 'Take his money away from him. Give it to the one
who has ten times as much.'
" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten times as much!'
"He
replied, 'I tell you that everyone who has will be given more. But here is what
will happen to anyone who has nothing. Even what he has will be taken away from
him. And what about my enemies who did not want me to be king
over them? Bring them here! Kill them in front of me!' "
Luke 19:12-26
The
primary meaning of the story is stewardship of what we have been given. To be
faithful with what God has given to us is to give Him our best in return. As
the master gave money to the servants in the parable, so God has given us gifts
to serve him. It is we who will lose out if we fail to give Him our best.
We are at our best when we serve God by serving others.
Our Daily Bread –