The Faithful Are Rewarded
Or
The Unfaithful Are Condemned
Sunday May 29,2022
Scripture To Consider:
“Now as Jesus heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said, ‘A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, “Do business till I come.” But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We will not have this man to rule over us.”’”
“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”
“And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ Then another came saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit, and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that 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 him who has ten minas.’ But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’ ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ When Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going to Jerusalem.” Luke 19.11-28
Something To Consider:
The nobleman’s instruction to his servants were according to Jesus, “Do business till I come.” Jesus’ instruction to His servants was and is, “Do business till I come.” We are to be about the business of the kingdom of God while we wait for the return of Jesus, who is depicted in our Scripture to consider today, by the certain nobleman of this parable. How are we doing with this command of Jesus?
Already in Luke 16.10, Jesus has proclaimed, “He [or she] who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he [or she] who is unjust in what is least is unjust in much.” Therefore, which has it been in our own lives? Are we among the faithful who are to be rewarded, or are we among the unfaithful that are to be condemned at the second coming of Jesus Christ?
Something Else To Consider:
To the servants who were faithful and whose work was well done, more work of greater responsibility and authority was given them. Their reward was not rest and relaxation, but was more work, more responsibility, and more authority. Jesus, in Matthew 28.18-19 explained, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
Jesus’ follow-up orders were to baptize these newly and truly born-again disciples of Christ, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And the most forgotten, most important discipleship step neglected by most was and remains according to Jesus; “Teaching them [new disciples] to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Something More To Consider:
This parable is a snapshot portrait of future duties being delegated by Jesus to His servants who have been faithful over the small things. Ruling and reigning with Christ will be the more work to be done by those proven faithful by the testing of the little things in this life. Therefore, no small task is too small or too insignificant!
The mystery writer of Hebrews pronounced in chapter 10, while echoing the words of the prophet Habakkuk; “For yet a little while, and He [Jesus] who is coming will come and will not tarry.” In this Scripture Habakkuk was speaking of Christ’s first coming. But, with the completion of the New Testament, we can with full assurance also proclaim; “For yet a little while. And He [Jesus] who is coming will come [a second and final time] and will not tarry.”
Habakkuk also affirmed, speaking of God, “Now the just [faithful of God] shall live by faith. But if anyone [man, woman, or young person] draws back [or departs from the faith], My soul [God’s soul] has no pleasure in him [or her].” Will we be among the faithful, enduring to the end followers of Christ and our heavenly Father? Will we be among the faithful rewarded in the millennium, or the unfaithful who will be condemned?
A Few Final Words:
The writer of Hebrews also cautioned in verses 35-36 of Hebrews chapter 10, by stating; “Therefore, do not cast away your confidence [or depart from the faith], which has great reward. For you [and for all of us, we] have need of endurance [or need for enduring to the end of which Jesus has promised to be with us] so that after you [and all of us, we] have done the will of God [or after we have been faithful], you [all of us, we] may receive the promise.”
The promise is eternal life! The promise is our hearing Jesus declare on the other side of our enduring to the end, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Yes, the promise is our being given greater authority in the millennium and beyond. Therefore, let us praise God who is faithful!
According to Jesus, as servants of God, our faithfulness or our lack of faithfulness here on earth, greatly influences and eternally impacts our future responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven. Father in heaven, help us to be faithful in these end times in which we are living. Help us to be faithful in our decision to be found by Jesus enduring to the end of these end times and tumultuous final days on planet earth.
And Jesus, in today’s parable professed; “And he [the nobleman who represents Jesus] said to him [the faithful servant], ‘Well done good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, teach us the eternal importance of being faithful on earth, for our future rewards and responsibilities depend on it. Teach us to be obedient to Your call upon our lives in these days in which we live. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 