The church's motivation

Luke 19:11–27 (HCSB)

The Parable of the 10 Minas

11 As they were listening to this, He went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.

12 Therefore He said: “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return. 13 He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’

15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business.

16 The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned 10 more minas.’

17 “‘Well done, good  slave!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19 “So, he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’

20 “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it hidden away in a cloth

21 because I was afraid of you, for you’re a tough man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’ 

22 “He told him, ‘I will judge you by what you have said, you evil slave! If you knew I was a tough man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow,

23 why didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’

24 So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minas.’

25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has 10 minas.’

26 “‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. 

27 But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter them in my presence.’ ”

Text: “He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’” (Luke 19:13 NIV).

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:11–27

Offertory Prayer: Thank you, dear Father, for the commitment of your Son to redeeming lost humanity. Grant that we may truly commit ourselves to you and to all that you would have us be for your glory. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Introduction

Now is a good time to consider this question: What are we to do until Jesus comes?

The book of Revelation gives a prophetic vision of the church in heaven. It will be transported and assembled there at Jesus’ coming for his people. There believers will worship Christ in his victory.

But what are we to do in the meantime?

·      Jesus, in Luke 19:13 (KJV), says, “Occupy till I come.” KJV,

·      And in Matthew 24:14 he says, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

·      At his ascension, recorded in Acts 1:7–8, he adds, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”               

“Occupy till I come.”

·    The word occupy means “to carry on a business.”

o  This is how it is said in other translations like the NIV.

·    So Jesus is telling us to carry on his business until he comes.

o  The verb tells us these things about his business:

(1) It is an imperative business. The verb is a command.

(2) It is a practical business. It deals with pragmatic matters.

(3) It is personal business. It emphasizes personal responsibility.

o  The command may be translated, “You occupy yourselves.”

Three things in this parable motivate us to do Christ’s business until he comes to take us to heaven.

I.      Motivation of opportunity.

II.     Motivation of accountability.

III.    Motivation of devotion.

I. Motivation of opportunity.

A nobleman gave ten minas to ten servants. They were to invest their money by using it for business purposes to gain more minas. They were doing his business, fulfilling their opportunity to invest.

I. Who is the Nobleman?

a. Jesus is the nobleman; believers are his servants; and the minas represent what Christ has given us to invest.

b. It is not money in this case; it is his gospel, his teachings, and his Spirit.

c. We “occupy” with these until he comes.

d. To each one of us has been given Christ’s “mina” as our opportunity for investment.

II. It is the greatest “business” investment in all the world—telling others about Jesus Christ.

a. The dividends returned are beyond computation.

b. One bushel of wheat may yield thirty, forty, or fifty bushels.

c. One life that is living and sharing Christ can experience a 30, 60, or 100 percent increase, plus know that these spiritual investments are forever!  Eternity!

Let us occupy! Do Christ’s business! Tell the world! Tell our community! Train ourselves to do so! Occupy till he comes.

Luke 19:15 (HCSB)

15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king,  he summoned those slaves he had given the money to, so he could find out how much they had made in business.

II. Motivation of accountability.

In Luke 19:15 the nobleman called for an accounting of each one.

I. We too will have to answer: What have we done with what Christ has given us?

a. One man made full use and gained ten minas.

b.  One man made partial use and gained five minas.

c.  One man made no use of his mina and had no gain.

i.    He did not spend it; he just kept it and wrapped it up in a piece of cloth.

            ii. A lot of commentaries state that this was a sweat cloth.              

iii.  The NKJV states that it was a handkerchief.

iv.   What do we do with handkerchiefs?

a.     Men blow their noses in them, people use them to wipe their sweat off the brow, or dry away tears.   

II. We are like that in our Christian lives.

a. Some make full use and multiply many times.

b.  Some make partial use and multiply less.

c.   Some make no use of their lives and nothing positive happens.

                                                              i. They hide their “light” from others (Matt. 5:15–16), and God is not glorified.

Matt 5:15-16

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

NIV

III. We need to remember that there is an accounting time for us as Christians, when Jesus will judge us as to how we “occupied” ourselves.

a. Just as in this parable there is a time of judgment and rewards, there is also the judgment seat of Christ.

b. 2 Corinthians 5:10 speaks of it.

2 Cor 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

NIV

c. 1 Corinthians 3:13 identifies it as the judgment of our work, our occupying, our service, our witnessing, and how we lived the Christian life.

1 Cor 3:13

13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

NIV

d. Romans14:10–12 teaches that we will give account of ourselves to God.

Rom 14:10-12

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

12   So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

NIV

This is powerful motivation!

III. Motivation of devotion.

The third servant had the wrong attitude and was not in fellowship with the king.

He was self-centered and lacking in devotion.

a. The first two were devoted, obedient, and loyal to their master.

b. Nothing motivates us like response to Christ’s love.

c. His love constrains us! We occupy until he comes primarily because we are devoted to Jesus.

d. We love him; we know him; we commit ourselves to him!

2. What about our devotion to Christ, our living Savior and coming Lord, who says, “Occupy till I come”?

 a.     Can we sing:

Am I a soldier of the cross,

A follower of the Lamb.

And shall I fear to own his cause?

Or blush to speak his name?

Isaac Watts, pub.ca.1721

Conclusion

A young American visited Valley Forge a few years ago when the windchill factor was sixty degrees below zero. He stood there recalling George Washington and the Colonial army in that bitter winter more than two hundred years ago. He thought of their devotion to their cause. With tears streaming down his face, knowing he could not show that kind of commitment to his country, he stood there in tender commitment to Christ. This is what it means to “occupy till I come.” I call you to that kind of response.

What are you going to do today?

Are you going to sit and occupy a seat? Or are you going to occupy or engage in Gods business.

What if you don’t know Christ; what are you going to do.

It’s simple Peter told the crowed in Acts chapter 2:38

Acts 2:38

 - And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

b. 1 John 1:9 says ;

- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

c. Won’t you do this today?