Fruitfulness

Living the Parables
-Part XI-

#23 The Talents
Matthew 25:14-30

#24 The Minas
Luke 19:11-27

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'

Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.

The Crowning of the King

Jesus was the promised King (Matthew 2:2, 27:11)
Many Jews rejected His kingship (Mt. 27:29/37, Lk. 19:14)
Jesus went to a distant country (Lk.24:51,19:12, Hb.11:14-16)
He was made King in spite of them
(Luke 19:12, 15; Daniel 7:13-14; Heb.2:9; 1 Cor.15:23-25)
King Jesus was to be gone a long time (Matthew 25:19)
King Jesus is coming back (Hebrews 9:28)

Living Between the 1st & 2nd Coming

3 Kinds of People
Rejecting subjects (Luke 19:14, 27)
Good servants (Luke 19:15-19)
Wicked servants (Luke 19:20-23)

Interim Realities
Christ has left assets to each servant (Matthew 25:14)
Each steward is given differing assets (Matthew 25:15)
Each steward is responsible to invest (Matthew 25:16-27)
Stewards produce in differing degrees (Luke19:13,16,18,20)

How to be a Good Servant
Be willing to risk! (Matthew 25:16-17)
Be grateful for the work! (Matthew 25:21)
Be faithful in the small things! (Matthew 25:23)

How to be a Bad Servant
Be inclined to recline (Matthew 25:18)
Be afraid to fail (Matthew 25:24-25)
Be prepared for a penalty (Matthew 25:26-30)