11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus told them a story. He was near Jerusalem. The people thought that God’s kingdom was going to appear right away.
12 Jesus said, “A man from an important family went to a country far away. He went there to be made king and then return home. 13 So he sent for ten of his servants. He gave them each about three months’ pay. ‘Put this money to work until I come back,’ he said.
14 “But those he ruled over hated him. They sent some messengers after him. They were sent to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “But he was made king and returned home. Then he sent for the servants he had given the money to. He wanted to find out what they had earned with it.
16 “The first one came to him. He said, ‘Sir, your money has earned ten times as much.’
17 “ ‘You have done well, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘You have been faithful in a very small matter. So I will put you in charge of ten towns.’
18 “The second servant came to his master. He said, ‘Sir, your money has earned five times as much.’
19 “His master answered, ‘I will put you in charge of five towns.’
20 “Then another servant came. He said, ‘Sir, here is your money. I have kept it hidden in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in. You harvest what you did not plant.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! So you knew that I am a hard man? You knew that I take out what I did not put in? You knew that I harvest what I did not plant? 23 Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his money away from him. Give it to the one who has ten times as much.’
25 “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more. But here is what will happen to anyone who has nothing. Even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 And what about my enemies who did not want me to be king over them? Bring them here! Kill them in front of me!’ ”
Read Luke 19:11-27 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
For those of you who enjoy analytics and numbers, this journal entry will be most enjoyable and interesting for you. Luke 19:11-27 shares a lesser known version of a parable that Matthew includes, but enough details are unique that make me think that Jesus shared this parable separately to a different group of people. Most of the time, we hear Matthew’s parable, but I want to share some interesting observations from Luke’s version, specifically about the money amounts:
- The master gives ten servants three months of pay each.
- Cost: 10 servants x 3 months = 30 months of pay
- The first servant increases his three months of pay ten times.
- Return 1: 3 months pay x 10 = 30 months pay
- The second servant increases his three months of pay five times.
- Return 2: 3 months pay x 5 = 15 months pay
- The third servant returns his three months of pay untouched.
- Return 3: 3 months pay untouched = 3 months pay.
- The other seven servants return nothing.
The total cost of the investment is 30 months of pay, while the total return of the investment is 48 months of pay—and the knowledge of two especially resourceful servants.
This leads us to our big idea for this entry: We should be using what God has given us to grow His kingdom, while not comparing ourselves to others.
The first two servants went about growing the money they had been given, and they are both rewarded. Perhaps they made it a competition, but maybe not. What stands out about this is the third servant’s response to the master. In it he reveals that he has compared himself with the master (and the successful servants who are like the master) and has determined that he cannot measure up, which leads him to not even try. Competition is good if it pushes all parties forward, but it is bad if it discourages people from even getting involved.
God has given us all opportunity, but he doesn’t expect equal results/increase from everyone. God does expect us to increase what He has given us, but the amount of the increase isn’t important.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.