Apicontent

“Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.” —Luke 20:19

The teachers of the law were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus! The truth of his words cut to their hearts and they needed to not only be rid of his message, but his entire being!

This sentiment is repeated several times by Luke:

“Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him, but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.” —Luke 19:47–48

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.” —Luke 22:1–2

Have you ever noticed that one simply cannot get rid of Jesus when confronted by the truth of Him? No matter how hard we try—pretending He doesn’t exist, or ignoring Him, or closing our ears and hearts, or seeking any other way to silence Him—it does not negate the fact that He is truth, and that He presents each one of us with a choice of whether or not to follow Him.

We see this “choice” throughout all of Scripture: People are clearly given the choice between following the world and following God. God does not want us to do a limping dance between the two options—a divided mind and heart will never stand.

For example, we find in 1 Kings the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel:

“Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘Kings, how long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the LORD is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!’ But the people did not say a word.” —1 Kings 18:21

Joshua also presented the people of Israel with a clear choice:

“Now obey the LORD and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the LORD. If you have no desire to worship the LORD, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the LORD.” —Joshua 24:14–15

In the New Testament, we see Peter and John faced with this same choice … and then turning that choice back to their accusers:

“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, saying, ‘What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.’ And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.’” —Acts 4:13–20

Jesus came as the light of the world and He has left us here to shine forth His light through our words and our deeds. We are to be Jesus! And just like Peter and John, we must be bold in professing to others what we have seen and what we have heard!

Become More

“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14–16

Further Reflection

“We are holding a light … Though it may seem but a twinkling candle in a world of blackness, it is our business to let it shine. We are blowing a trumpet … We must keep sounding the alarm to those who are in spiritual danger … We are kindling a fire. In this cold world full of hatred and selfishness our little blaze may seem to be unavailing, but we must keep our fire burning. A light, a trumpet, a fire … they seem so little … But ‘with God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26), and He will bless our efforts to bring the good news of Jesus to a weary and strife-torn world.” —Billy Graham

“Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” —Luke 20:18

When we fall on Jesus as our only hope of salvation, with a broken and contrite heart, completely sorry for our sin and hopeless condition—in other words “broken to pieces”—God will welcome us!

“The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” —Psalm 51:17

“Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is–will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable—‘I have been crucified with Christ.’” —Oswald Chambers

It is a crushing blow to come face-to-face with the reality of our own sinfulness. The more that we grow in Christlikeness, the more aware of our sinful nature we become.

And it is when we approach God’s throne full of ourselves, full of our works, full of self-righteousness, full of arrogance, full of self-importance, and full of our ability to reconcile ourselves to a holy God, that we are crushed. Eventually, when face-to-face with God’s pure holiness and glorious majesty, it will be evident to those who have chosen not to follow our Savior that neither their arrogance nor their wealth will be able to save them.

We are told by the prophet Isaiah:

“Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned. Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare them! Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the LORD, from his royal splendor! Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Indeed, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has planned a day of judgment, for all the high and mighty, for all who are proud—they will be humiliated.” —Isaiah 2:7–12

The book of Hebrews explains:

“Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.’ Now this phrase ‘once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire.” —Hebrews 12:25–29

Become More

I am a religious fraud if I depend upon by own sense of righteousness and abilities to reconcile myself to a holy God. It is only through the blood of Jesus that I am washed and made clean of my sins.

“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food! Pay attention and come to me! Listen, so you can live! Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David. Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations. Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know; nations that did not previously know you will run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he bestows honor on you. Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby! The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.” —Isaiah 55:1–7

“Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.” —1 John 1:5–v10

Further Reflection

“It’s the nature of God to make something out of nothing; therefore, when anyone is nothing, God may yet make something of him.” —Martin Luther

‘The stone the builders rejected has become the corner.” —Luke 20:17

The “corner” that Jesus is referring to here is himself! He is telling the people that God has exalted Him to be the chief stone above all, the head of the corner, on which all else depends. Jesus—according to the book of Daniel—is the rock cut out of the mountain.

Daniel described this as he told King Nebuchadnezzar about his dream:

“You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.” —Daniel 2:34–35

Daniels’s interpretation of this dream speaks to our verses for today:

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.” —Daniel 2:44–45

Peter uses the word “cornerstone” for Jesus in the book of Acts:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed—let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:8–12

Scripture is clear—salvation is found in no one else but Jesus! We find this clearly explained by Paul and Silas in the book of Acts when they answer the jailor’s question about salvation:

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away. The jailer brought them into his house and set food before them, and he rejoiced greatly that he had come to believe in God, together with his entire household.” —Acts 16:31–34

Become More

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6

Further Reflection

“Our nature struggles fiercely against being saved without our works and tries to deceive us with a grand illusion of our own righteousness. So we may find ourselves attracted to a life that merely appears to be righteous. Or because we know we aren’t righteous, we may be frightened by death or sin. Therefore, we must learn that we should have nothing to do with any other way of becoming righteous, except through Christ alone.” —Martin Luther

“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours!’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?” —Luke 20:13–15

Destruction follows the path of continuous disobedience. This is man’s choosing, it is not God’s desire. We find this warning in other parts of the Bible:

“What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead? Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there. I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there. I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it.” —Isaiah 5:4–6

“The LORD God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets. Finally the LORD got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.” —2 Chronicles 36:15–16

“This is what the LORD says:‘What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me. They did not ask: “Where is the LORD who delivered us out of Egypt, who brought us through the wilderness, through a land of valleys and gorges, through a land of desert and deep darkness, through a land in which no one travels, and where no one lives?” I brought you into a fertile land so you could enjoy its fruits and its rich bounty. But when you entered my land, you defiled it; you made the land I call my own loathsome to me.’” —Jeremiah 2:5–7

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! Look, your house is left to you desolate!” —Matthew 23:37–38

May we not be found in the place of desolation! Consider for a moment all that God has blessed us with! Think about His constant love for us! Do we not owe Him our all?

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?” —Romans 8:31–32

Become More

“Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.” —2 Thessalonians 3:5

Further Reflection

“He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.” —Psalm 91:4

“Then he began to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed. So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed. So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out.’” —Luke 20:9–12

In the books of Matthew and Mark we find additional details surrounding this story:

“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.” —Matthew 21:33

“A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.” —Mark 12:1

Jesus is comparing the kingdom of God on earth to an exquisite vineyard furnished with everything necessary for its management, improvement, and development.

These verses of Scripture are reminiscent of a description found in Isaiah:

“I will sing to my love—a song to my lover about his vineyard.
My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.
He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine.
He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress.
He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.” —Isaiah 5:1–2

The Lord has planted the Church for the display of His splendor, and it is ever under His watchful, protective eye. It was He who planted the vineyard with the choicest of vines; it was He who cleared the soil of the stones; and it was He who built the watchtower and the winepress—all with the goal of enjoying its fruitfulness.

“When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard! I, the LORD, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it.” —Isaiah 27:2–3

Those of us who enjoy all the privileges as children of the King also have pleasant and profitable responsibilities which accompany our position—we are to about bringing forth much fruit.

Proverbs tells us:

“The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.” —Proverbs 11:30

The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed God’s message:

“My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.” —Jeremiah 17:7–8

The story goes on to explain how the tenants beat the faithful servants of the man. Unfortunately, this has often been the case of God’s faithful servants as well. They have been abused and treated wrongly by those who are resolved to take God’s gifts for themselves. They not only refuse to acknowledge God’s rightful authority, but also abuse those who do.

“Though assaults be many, and my enemies mighty, if God strengthen me, I have enough to comfort me; for the greater my enemy, the more glorious my victory; and the more glorious my victory, the more triumphant my glory.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

Become More

“Grant, O Lord, that I may earnestly seek to bring forth fruits, and may grow in fruitfulness as I grow in years; and never cease from yielding fruit; hereby proving myself to be a tree of the Lord’s planting, whose leaf is green, and whose branches are flourishing and fruitful. Yet bless me also with deep poverty of spirit, that I may see myself still nothing, have nothing of my own to glory in, or to justify me; and thus esteem Christ my all, and rest upon Him wholly.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

Further Reflection

“Christians shouldn’t be surprised when, in seeking to do God’s will, we find ourselves trapped in painful, frightening, difficult, or impossible situations. Life is hard—especially for Christians.” —Robert J. Morgan

“Then another slave came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ And he said to his attendants, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’” —Luke 19:20–24

The faithful go about their Master’s business with eagerness awaiting His sure return. There is a great deal of work for every Christian to do and there is a need to set about it swiftly, losing no time. At Christ’s ascension He took care to furnish His Church with all things needed until His return.

“He gave to some more, to others less; to everyone according to his own ability. When Divine Providence has made a difference in men’s ability, grace dispenses spiritual gifts accordingly, but still the ability itself is from Him. Everyone has one talent at least, and that is not a despicable stock for a poor servant to begin with. A soul of our own is the one talent we are every one of us entrusted with, and it will find us with work.” —Matthew Henry

“Be careful not to say, ‘My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.’ You must remember the LORD your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day.” —Deuteronomy 8:17–18

Everything comes from God’s hand and is intended for His glory. Sadly, somehow along the way, we have become confused. We must remember that God has a purpose for what He has poured into us. The servant in our verses today forgot that he was accountable to the master.

Become More

The failure of the servant to put his talents to work was an indication of his lack of faith in the master’s response to him upon his certain return. The servant failed to put forth any effort to improve the lot given him. None will be called to account for more than they have received, but for what we have received we will surely be called upon to give an accounting.

“And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” —Hebrews 4:13

Further Reflections

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” —Edmund Burke

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” —Luke 12:40

“So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.” Then the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ So the king said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’” —Luke 19:16–19

These verses beg the question: Are we being good, profitable, useful servants to our Master? Indeed, trustworthiness being lived out is both virtuous and advantageous to those who consider themselves servants Jesus.

As followers of Christ we are told:

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” —1 Corinthians 6:19–20

“You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.” —1 Corinthians 7:23

“You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.” —1 Peter 1:18–19

“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

Purchased by the precious blood of Jesus from the marketplace of sin, each one of us has been redeemed from a useless, vain, and empty way of life—not only saved from it but saved for another purpose!

“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” —Ephesians 2:8–10

We were saved from a useless life in order to accomplish God’s good works! We have been created to do great things for Him! When He returns, His desire is to find us faithful and trustworthy in this endeavor. This holds true even in what we or the world may deem to be the smallest things He has prepared for us to do. Obedience is obedience—God considers nothing too small.

Paul tells us in Colossians:

“Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.” —Colossians 3:23–24

“If [God] says ‘Well done,’ it does not matter who says otherwise.” —Matthew Henry

It can lighten our load to remember whom it is that we are serving. Knowing that we are doing God’s work infuses our labor with dignity and honor. We serve others faithfully for the sake of Christ who served us while we were yet sinners.

Become More

“If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider ‘not spiritual work’ I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love.” —Amy Carmichael

“It is too bad that many believers minimize the place of good works in the Christian life. Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven’. We do not perform good works to get any glory for ourselves, but we do them to glorify His blood given on our behalf. Hebrews 13:16 indicates that our good works are actually ‘spiritual sacrifices’ that we offer to God.” —Wales Goebel

Further Reflection

“Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.” —St. Ignatius Loyola

“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’ When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading.” —Luke 19:14–15

The subjects presented in these verses had no desire for this man to be their king. And yet, they still had a responsibility to him. They could either do their job with a joyful heart or a reluctant spirit … but they still had to do it!

Oh, the lordship of Christ—why is it that we so often resist it? Considering all He offers in leading and guiding us with His loving eye constantly upon us; considering the multitude of faithful promises in His—why is it that we so often resist Him? Perhaps we believe that we know better than God what is best for us. Perhaps, like the subjects in our verse for today, we do not want Him as our King.

This passage reminds me of a young mother’s response to her two-year-old having a temper tantrum. The child could not have what she wanted, and the mother said: “It doesn’t really matter what you want!” If you think about it, if our desires are contrary to or apart from or less than God’s will for us, it doesn’t really matter what we want—no matter how big a fit we pitch or how hard we stomp our feet! Some things are set in stone and there is no changing them. God is God and He is in control!

Our reassurance of the King’s goodness comes in knowing that God, who makes known the end from the beginning, does not see partially or in tunnel vision. He sees the whole picture of our lives in their entirety and lovingly leads us through paths that will conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. This will bring peace to each one of us and glory and honor to Him. It is the good way. Jeremiah tells us:

“The LORD said to his people: ‘You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not follow it!’” —Jeremiah 6:16

“We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences. If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.” —John Newton

There is no doubt about it—rest, peace, joy, and satisfaction belong to those who submit to the Lordship of Christ. When we follow Him, we have a responsibility to do His work.

Scripture contains many precious promises for those whom the Lord leads:

“The beloved of the LORD will live safely by him; he protects him all the time, and the LORD places him on his chest.” —Deuteronomy 33:12

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” —Psalm 23:1

“Praise the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds!” —Psalm 103:2

“You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.” —Isaiah 26:3

How are we using what God has blessed us with? Are we serving Him and the interest of His kingdom? Expectant and ready for service is how Jesus desires to find believers upon His return. We must be not only working servants but also waiting servants. His charge is for us to be ready and eager for His return.

Become More

“My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples.” —John 15:8

“Every Christian life ought to be a force among men, a witness for Jesus and an influence for blessing and good. I know that there are few people like Billy Graham, whom God calls to do great things for Him. For men like me, and perhaps you, the best thing that we can do in the small time allotted to us in this world is to live out a genuine, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life. In our little measure we can repeat the life of the Lord Himself, doing in our imperfect way a few of the wonderful things He would do if He were Himself in our place.” —Wales Goebel

Further Reflections

“God always gives His very best to those who leave the choice with Him.” —Hudson Taylor

“Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart.” —Chuck Colson

“There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure in the world to come. We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.” —Billy Graham

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28-30

“While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. Therefore he said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.”’” —Luke 19:11–13

In these verses, Jesus begins the Parable of the Ten Minas. Those that followed Jesus were expecting the kingdom of God to appear at once. Wanting to readjust their thinking, Jesus gives them this parable. Two principles seem to be presented here: First, whatever we have been given, whether great or small, comes from God’s hand and is entrusted to us for a season; secondly, we are going to be held accountable for the responsibilities that we have been given.

The whole of Scripture confirms both of these teachings:

“For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” —1 Corinthians 4:7

On the basis of grace, God gives His children a wide variety of gifts to be used for kingdom work. These gifts are given to us individually, but they are not solely for us—they are to be used for the common good of the body of Christ, the Church.

Paul tells us:

“Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.” —1 Corinthians 12:4–7

Peter echoes this same message, calling us each to be good stewards of the gifts we have received:

“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” —1 Peter 4:10

Everything belongs to God!

I am reminded of God’s words in Haggai which describe His ultimate ownership and providential control of the wealth of all nations:

‘“The silver and gold will be mine,” decrees the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” —Haggai 2:8

God also speaks through the pen of Asaph in Psalm 50 saying:

“I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds. For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills. I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine.” —Psalm 50:9–11

As His servants, we are to use these gifts through the Holy Spirit’s power to point others to Jesus and serve the body of Christ. This is what Jesus means when He tells us that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and that we will do even greater works than He (John 14:12). We can know that we are on the right track if it is Jesus who gets the glory for our actions rather than ourselves.

As John tells us:

“No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. He must become more important while I become less important.” —John 3:27–30

Ultimately, we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The Bible teaches that it matters how we live our lives:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.” —2 Corinthians 5:10

Become More

One day our lives will be evaluated by the Master. Our motivation and perseverance must flow out of our love for Jesus in order for us to accomplish all that He has for us to do. In commending the Thessalonians, Paul says:

“Because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Thessalonians 1:3

If our work is produced by faith, our labor prompted by love, and our endurance inspired by our hope in Jesus we are certain to hear:

“And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’” —Luke 19:17

Further Reflection

“The parable of the talents is our Lord’s statement with regard to the danger of leaving undone the work of the lifetime.” —Oswald Chambers

“I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:14

Being just before God begins with humility. True humility is a rare gem, is it not? In our verse for today, Jesus ends the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector with what I am sure was a big surprise ending for all is listeners! Righteous in his own eyes, the Pharisee fell short of righteousness in God’s eyes.

Scripture tells us:

“But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’” —James 4:6

“God opposes the proud.” The word “opposes,” or “resists,” is antitassetai, a military term meaning “to battle against.”

However, the good news is that God “gives grace to the humble.” As we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He will lift us up.

“Whether a believer is called to resist his human spirit which tends toward envy or to rejoice in the Holy Spirit who jealously yearns for each believer’s edification, the call is to shun pride and to submit humbly to God’s authority. The cure for conflict is a humble spirit which is rewarded by God’s unmerited favor.” —Bible Knowledge Commentary

Peter tells us:

“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:6–7

God sees everything that happens to His children—every slight, every hurt, every misunderstanding! He knows every motive that prompts every action. He knows each heart through and through. This is why He tells us to leave revenge up to Him. He takes care of defending His own and He does it perfectly. We need not worry about our own defense.

“Man sees your actions, but God, your motives.” —Thomas a Kempis

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.” —Psalm 149:4

Our troubles occur when we take measures into our own hands—making sure everyone knows how right we are! But Paul tells us:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written.” —Romans 12:17–19

Become More

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30

Further Reflection

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing; not being but becoming; not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” —Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, “Defense and Explanation of All the Articles”