Heavenly gains
The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away. He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’... “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Luke 19:11-13, 26
It was promised by Jesus that one day He will return. But His disciples thought that the Kingdom would appear immediately. So He told them the parable of the pounds. Jesus told His disciples that they need to be occupied until He returns. In the parable, He told them that there will be those that would wish He will not return, others will do nothing, and there will be those who will live wisely and will engage in the work that God called them to do. The term used in English in v. 11 from the text was the word “invest.” The Apostle Paul used the same word in Greek in 2 Timothy 2:4; “Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” The word “affairs” is the same Greek word that was used translated in English as “invest.” The connotations of the terms provide a clear directive that God wants His children to invest in Kingdom work. He expects us to be faithful and use whatever abilities and gifts He gave us. He expects His children to be faithful to what He entrusted them. The goal is in whatever we do, whether at work, in school, in our home, at church, with friends in our community, wherever place He brings us, is to serve our Savior. Let us use wisely our involvement in our vocation as members of His Kingdom. Always be aware that Christ came in this world “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). God’s will is that we be diligent in whatever He has called us to do until He comes. Be sure that whatever we are doing, we’re doing it not just for selfish gains but for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
