Day 306.
And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (Luke 19:24-26 ESV)
This is the conclusion of a parable in which a nobleman goes away for a time and leaves 3 of his servants with 10 minas to invest. When he returns one has invested well and earned 10 minas more. A second has also invested well and earned 5 minas more. Both are commended. The third, however, hides his minas away and earns nothing with them. He is condemned and his money is taken from him and given to the one with the greatest earnings.
We understand from the parable that the money belongs to the nobleman and it is his to invest. He expects the investors to invest well. People do this today all of the time with their stock investments. They expect it to do well and if it does not, they find a new investor. They are right in so doing. The investor’s job is to earn money on he money entrusted to him. Let’s translate this to us and our God given talents and gifts. He gives them to us as stewards of them to be used for the glory of His kingdom (and not our own). The question for us is plain: how have we used these gifts and talents?
Lord, please put people in my life within your church to guide and direct me to the best use of my gifts and grant me to see the fruit of my labor for your sake. Amen.
