Luke 19:11-27
Notes
Transcript
The individual quest for meaning and purpose is stronger than it’s ever been.
For many people today, particularly Gen Z, the question “Why am I on earth?” or “What is my calling in life?” is a big one.
‘Finding myself’ is a common phrase. Meaning to discover my grand purpose, my true identity.
But research shows that despite this growing trend towards self-discovery, there is also increased anxiety and dissatisfaction, uncertainty and lack of direction.
Which makes sense. There are endless possibilities, constant comparison, and life “under the sun” is nothing if not disappointing!
What are we here for? How can we discover our true calling, our ultimate purpose?
If we want an example of someone who knew their purpose with razor-sharp clarity, we should look no further than Jesus.
He knew exactly what he was on earth do. We saw it last week: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
That’s why he’s heading to Jerusalem (v11). He’s going there to die. His death will be a sacrifice to save lost sinners, which is all of us.
But that’s not what people were expecting of their Messiah:
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
They expected, wanted an insta-kingdom. Ready built.
But Jesus tells a parable to change their expectations, and to make clear what he expects of his followers in every age as we wait for his return.
And as he does that, we’re shown our purpose, we’re given our identity, we discover our meaning.
Here we’re shown that we must understand the mission, invest in the kingdom, and receive the reward.
UNDERSTAND THE MISSION
UNDERSTAND THE MISSION
The purpose of the parable is clear from v11 - to manage expectations about the timing of the kingdom.
He said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.”
Remember, it’s a parable. We don’t have to decode every little detail!
A man is being made king, going away, and leaving servants with a task. He wants them to somehow invest his money so that when he returns there will be more of it.
The ‘man of noble birth’ clearly represents the Lord Jesus, and this is a clear declaration of his Messiahship. He is the king who is going away and then returning.
And the implication is that he has left his servants with a task. No, it’s not to make as much money as possible! Nor is it to be really successful in life and business. It’s not to be rich and famous, or to make a name for ourselves.
It’s simply to be faithful in the way that we use whatever God has given us.
The mina represents the opportunities, resources and responsibilities of followers of Jesus. It’s the tasks that we’ve been left with, and all we have available to us to do them.
And there is a clear implication: the master said “Put this money to work until I come back.” The servants knew that they would have to give an account for how they’ve handled this responsibility when their master returned.
In the same way, our Master has gone away for a time, but he is returning. And when he returns we should expect to give an account for how we’ve used what he’s given to us, as the rest of the NT makes plain:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
That makes it clear what our mission is while we’re on earth: we live for our master, for his purposes, for his glory, and not for ourselves or for our own ends.
Our verse of the year says something similar:
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
We are free, but we serve Jesus!
This is about getting the right perspective on life. Yes, we are free to choose how we use our time, talents and resources. Yes, there is no right or wrong career path to follow, there’s no bullseye we have to aim for in mastering God’s will for us.
But whatever we choose to do with our lives, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, our mission is clear: it’s all for Jesus, we serve him, we labour for him.
The world’s mantras can sometimes be loud and compelling: follow your dreams, find yourself, be who you were made to be.
And those aren’t bad in and of themselves. If your dream is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, if you find your identity in Christ, then go for it!
But we need to understand the mission we’ve been left with, which is to...
INVEST IN THE KINGDOM
INVEST IN THE KINGDOM
There’s a twist in the parable at this point. Not everyone wanted this guy to rule over them.
‘But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.”
Again, the parallels with Jesus are pretty clear. Not everyone accepts or welcomes him as king.
It’s almost an aside, but it serves as a reminder of the precise nature of the mission we’ve been left with.
As John Piper famously put it: “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” In other words, the goal of the church is to proclaim the gospel so that more souls are won to Christ and God receives all the glory in eternity.
As long as there are people who do not accept Jesus as their king, Lord, Saviour, the church has a mission.
When we talk about investing in the kingdom, we’re talking about investing in eternity. Making disciples in every sense - preaching the gospel to those who don’t yet believe, and maturing those do.
Perhaps we could recall the parable of the seeds - scattering gospel seed in order to see a multiplying crop of people coming to believe.
But first it requires us to sow the seed, or invest the money, in order to see a return.
‘He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. ‘The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” ‘ “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”
The master is thrilled with this servant for his work and diligence. And notice how extravagant the reward is!
This newly-appointed king makes this worthy servant governor of 10 cities.
Remember - don’t get carried away with trying to make this fit with our understanding of end-time rewards! Just pay attention to how lavish the master is, how richly he rewards his faithful servant.
The same thing happens with the next servant who comes forward. Five minas = five cities.
But then another comes.
‘Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
Made no effort whatsoever. Just kept it to himself. Hid it away.
Didn’t even try to do what the master had left him to do. Just put the money in safe keeping and forgot about it.
What a waste! What a missed opportunity. And what an insult to the master.
I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.”
The servant misunderstood his master. He was fearful because he thought the master was severe and harsh. Thought that he unjust in the way that he did business.
What he thought he would gain by making this excuse, I don’t know! But it was a bad result:
‘His master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” ‘Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.”
I think the lesson here is pretty obvious.
Those that the Lord has entrusted with the gospel, those he has saved and set to work in his kingdom, are expected to use what they have to invest in his kingdom.
That will look different in each person, according to the gifts and resources and opportunities available to us.
But what it can’t look like is simply hiding away, not making any effort to contribute to the work of God’s kingdom, or worse using what he’s given for their own interests and not the Lord’s.
This is where the world’s narrative is particularly toxic in the minds and hearts of believers. If we allow the values of this world to shape how we approach life then we are in danger of neglecting our primary responsibility to the invest in the Kingdom of Jesus.
Don’t mishear me: I’m not saying everyone should quit their jobs, sell their houses and cars, and go and take the gospel to unreached people groups. Although, he may call some to do that!
Rather, the principles of this parable are saying that we should be shaped by kingdom values, for kingdom ends.
Not living for ourselves, but for Christ. Not working ultimately to build a career and make money, but for Christ. Not raising children for their happiness and security, but for Christ.
The third servant stands as a severe warning: don’t be left wanting on the day you stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
CT Studd: Only one life, will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Why are you doing what you’re doing? Who are you doing it for? Let the glory of God in the building of his kingdom be your primary calling, and let it shape your primary identity.
Resist the world’s pull to live for self. Invest in the kingdom of God, and then...
RECEIVE THE REWARD
RECEIVE THE REWARD
We see again just how rich is the reward of those who faithfully serve the master!
‘Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” ‘ “Sir,” they said, “he already has ten!” ‘He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
At the start, this guy was a lowly servant following orders. By the end, he is governor of ten cities, and he has 11 minas, equivalent to around 3.5 years’ wages.
The third servant accused the master of reaping what he didn’t sow. But he is actually the one who lavishly gives to others what they don’t deserve.
Again, the reward for faithful believers is not money, power and privilege.
The ultimate reward is the Master himself - and the joy of serving him!
It’s been entrusted with more opportunities to serve him, more chances to be fruitful for his kingdom and glory.
Does the thought of serving the Lord more and more thrill your heart? Do you count it as the highest blessing to bear fruit for your Master?
Be faithful with what he has given you. Don’t waste your life on yourself or the things of this temporary life.
Invest in eternity, with your time, gifts, talents, energy, money, property, relationships, family, singleness, marriage, work, hobbies - whatever he has blessed you with. Consider carefully how to offer all of it up to him who loved you and died for you, rose from the dead and is returning.
Be prepared to share the hope of Christ with anyone who might ask or who you might interact with.
Serve in the church so that we can grow together in making disciples in Milton Keynes and beyond.
Pray for strength and wisdom to know how to use each day and each moment for the glory of God.
Find your ultimate identity, calling and purpose in living for the Master - our Lord Jesus.
