While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied,
‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’”
Use the gifts given to you.
ReplyDeleteI read this and my immediate thought was “Didn’t we have this same reading recently”? Yes. On Nov19th, we had Mt 25:14-30 where each servant was given differentially. In this reading, every servant gets the same. My take away is that we are called to make the most of the resources entrusted to us - but there is a difference between those who act out of fear or compulsion, and those who act out of a sense of responsibility and loyalty. I think the latter is the better motivation. I also think the latter stems from gratitude. Giving your best out of gratitude demands believing in the cause. Indeed it is the cause that has to be nobel. Also interesting was that Luke includes ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ Why not? I thought. Do we have a tendency to not want leaders who expect something from us? Look for leaders who represent nobel causes. Give your talents to the cause. Remaining idle or fearful suggests you have not found the right leader or the right cause.
Your response to Luke 19:11-28 offers insightful reflections on the parable of the ten minas and the importance of using our gifts wisely. The parallel with Matthew 25:14-30 highlights the common theme of stewardship and accountability for the resources entrusted to us.
ReplyDeleteYour observation about the difference between acting out of fear or compulsion and acting out of a sense of responsibility and loyalty is crucial. Indeed, the latter motivation, often fueled by gratitude, stems from a deeper understanding of the value of our gifts and the impact we can have when we use them for a noble cause.
The inclusion of the phrase "We do not want this man to be our king" in Luke's parable adds an interesting dimension to the narrative. It suggests a resistance to leadership that demands something in return, a reluctance to submit to authority that places burdens or expectations upon us.
Your call to seek leaders who represent noble causes and to dedicate our talents to such causes resonates deeply. It reminds us that our gifts are not meant to be hoarded or used for personal gain but rather to be employed in the service of something greater, something that contributes to the betterment of society and the world.
The notion that remaining idle or fearful suggests we have not found the right leader or the right cause is a powerful one. It challenges us to introspection, to examine whether we are actively engaging our gifts in the pursuit of meaningful causes.
Overall, your response effectively captures the essence of the parable and offers valuable insights into the importance of using our gifts wisely and aligning ourselves with leaders and causes that inspire us to contribute meaningfully to the world.