If "They" Win - What Then? Pt. 3
Notes
Transcript
Please turn to Luke chapter 19. I want to jump right into the text this morning. If you missed the two previous sermons, I encourage you to listen to help make better sense of this one.
Before the crucifixion -
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
Review from last week.
God expects His people to share in and take ownership of the responsibility of taking His Kingdom to people and places where the Kingdom is not yet present.
And because of that expectation,
Every servant has a purpose, and every servant has the resources to accomplish their purpose.
Because of that,
God trusts that we will do something with what He has given us.
And we ended last week emphasizing the importance of knowing your why. Knowing why you do what you do. When you know your why, then you can focus on your what - what you do. My “why” is helping people reach their potential in Christ. My “what” is coaching and preaching.
Let’s continue with the parable and see what other truths we can learn.
So, this man went to a distant land to become king - to take ownership of that land.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
This is critical. Jesus put that in the story for a reason. This is reflecting His story.
Where were the servants commanded to engage in business?
My interpretation is that the nobleman brought his servants with him and he left them in the new kingdom to engage in business - then he went home and said I’ll be back. That’s what Jesus did. Going with that - they were left in a kingdom that yes, belonged to the new king (all authority given to the new king), but it was in a distant land. So, to the servants it was probably an unfamiliar place with strange people, strange customs, strange beliefs and behaviors (bumper stickers on their camels - Keep this place weird). To top it off the citizens hated the new king (all / some ??).
So how would you feel left to do business any distant land where they hated the king?
I’m certain it was uncomfortable. Possibly a lot of resistance, unfriendly, even hostile. That's where the king told them to do their business. So how do you conduct business in an uncomfortable resistant unfriendly possibly hostile place? You prepare.
#4 The Power of Preparation
Missionaries will spend a year or two or more preparing before ever hitting the mission field. They study the customs and courtesies, the language, the government …. Why? Going into a new country without being prepared can be disastrous. But on the other hand, proper preparation provides the power to pursue their purpose with proficiency, thus providing a plethora of possibilities to profusely propagate kingdom profit.
In other words, if you want to do Kingdom business, you must prepare - especially in a resistant environment. And it has to be intentional. Kingdom work does not happen in complacency. Kingdom work does not happen by waiting for it to happen. If we’re not preparing for Kingdom work - by prayer, learning, training etc., it’s not going to happen.
Back to the story - these servants had to do business with whom? The citizens. Resistant, unfamiliar, unfriendly, and possibly hostile people. Same with us - we must connect with, interact with, work alongside, brush up against, and do business with people and places where God’s Kingdom is not yet present. America is becoming an unfamiliar land to many of us. What are we going to do? Sit back and watch it go to Hell? Not talking blue and red.
Pat discovered a new way to do kingdom business. She also discovered the importance of preparation. I’ll let her share that later ….
Let’s continue.
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’
And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
OK we've got to get this. When Jesus returns, there is a reward for those who have done what they could with what they were given. So truth …
#5 The Reality of Accountability
Every person who claims to be a believer in Jesus Christ is accountable to Christ for doing what he or she can with the resources that he or she has been given. We will give an account - that is Biblical. Understand that God holds us accountable, not because He's angry and mean, but because He is just. His justness is an extension of His love. God loves us, so He holds us accountable - that's what true love does.
We are all accountable - but only some will receive a reward! What determines whether or not we receive a reward?
The amount of return determines the size of the reward, not if we receive a reward. So what does determine? Faithfulness.
It’s not about how much you earn, or how hard you work or even what you’ve been given. It’s about faithfulness with what He's given us. What more can God ask?
Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
There’s a lot we could say about this servant, but here’s my summary: He had a distorted view of the king. The King was not any of those things, but that was his perception. And because that was his perception, he neither feared nor respected the King. And because he neither feared nor respected the King, he disregarded the command to engage in Kingdom business.
He did not believe he had a responsibility. He did not believe he would be held accountable. So what did he do? He hid what the King had given him. He hid it, left it, and forgot about it. Possibly made excuses - “Someday, I’ll …. I know I should, but ….”
What’s your perception of God? How well do you respect Him? Honor Him?
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Got any resources God has given you that you’ve buried, forgotten, laid aside?
Some questions:
1) Father, what do you want me to learn from this parable?
2) How well do I prepare for Kingdom work? What might I need to do differently? Who can help me?
Especially in a resistant, unfamiliar, unfriendly possibly hostile environment?
3) How faithful am I with what God has given me?
From last week:
4) What resources do I have? What has God given me?
5) What am I doing or not doing with those resources?
6) Why am I here? What is God’s “why” for my life?
If you want to have a conversation about any of those questions, then let's talk.
Closing: Today, receive Jesus -
Lord lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. And may I ever do my part to win that soul for Thee. - Leon Tucker