How To Make A Good Investment For God's Kingdom
Today we are looking at one of the parables Jesus used to correct an impression that people had about the Kingdom of God. In the story we are challenged to made a good investment for God’s kingdom. Let’s take a look at how we can do that.
A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ Luke 19:16-13
In this story, the master gave a pound of silver to ten individuals. Jesus though only revealed the fate of 3 of them. That would bring us to the assumption that the others fell into one of those 3 categories.
This story is not talking about how we should invest our money. The fact is, it isn’t necessarily talking about finances at all. Read what Jesus said at the end of the parable.
The king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Luke 19:26
Some people assume that one Christian may have an advantage over another. According to the story, each of the servants received the same amount. They were all given the same apportionment.
Obviously, however, they did not all have the same gifts or talents. No matter what gifts or talents we have, the Lord expects us to use them for his Kingdom.
We All Must Make an Investment in God’s Kingdom
After the first servant reported an increase from 1 to 10, the others may have shied away from reporting how they did. But look what the second servant said.
The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’ Luke 19:18
He didn’t apologize for not making as much as the first man. Nor did he make any excuses. It sounded like he boldly stood before the master with his report. Look what the master’s response was.
“‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’ Luke 19:19
Here is a valuable lesson we can learn from those two servants. The second one did not compare himself with the first.
For me, I know people who hold better leadership skills than I do. Does that make me inferior to those people? Not by a long shot. I must take the talents that God has given to me and develop them the best I can.
If I produce 10 fold, praise God. If I produce 5 fold, praise God again. There is no need to compare yourself with anyone else. What we must understand is God does the measuring and He gives the rewards.
We Should Make A Sound Investment
So, here is a sound Investment in God’s Kingdom . Use the gifts and talents that He has given you to the best of your ability. And not to hide them because of fear.
The third servant failed because his motivation was fear. Fear is not a gift nor a talent. Because he hid the talent he received, look at what the master said to him.
You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Luke 19:22-23
Lord, we want to be productive for the Kingdom of God. Therefore help us to develop the gifts and talents you have given us. So that we can invest them to the best of our ability.
A post related to this one is my cornerstone post discipleship called How To Be An Effective Devoted Disciple Of Jesus
Read the entire parable in Luke 19.
Featured Image Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash
