“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 they have 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.’” Luke 19:11-27
A few things to consider from this parable:
1: The servants where each given an amount of money that they became responsible for. I would relate this to the potential each of us has within us.
2: They were given money to create a profit and bring increase. What they were given was for the purpose of being used.
3: The proof of the proper use, was increase. Creating profit was the proof of the correct use. Jesus said in John 15 that fruit is the proof that we were his disciples.
4: The servants had to give an account for what they were responsible for.
5: The two servants had different amounts of increase to give back to the master. Each were praised and then given greater responsibility according to the proof of their ability. The one made ten times what he was given and was put in charge of ten cities. The other made five times what he was given and was put in charge of five cities. Understand that success is not based on what you did compared to someone else. Success is determined by what you did compared to what you should have or could have done.
6: God is not responsible for realizing our potential. The third servant was given money just like the other two but he didn’t do anything with it. It’s possible to live a life that is full of activity but not have anything to show for it. God put inside of us everything we need to become everything we were created to become. We are responsible for cultivating and realizing our potential. Understand I’m not saying this process is void of God. I’m saying we either commit to realizing our potential or we neglect it.
7: Don’t show up to settle accounts with nothing gained. Don’t do it. The master said to the third servant, “Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” Increase is not a request, it is a demand.
8: “To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” The mina from the third servant was given to the one who had made ten times what he was given. To this a servant replied, “He already has ten!” I love this part. The master wasn’t confused, he wanted the servant who made ten to have the wicked servant’s money. Which is interesting because the first servant was given more because the third servant’s money was taken away. Meaning the first servant’s amount increased at the end because of the failure of another.
My good peoples, this life matters, and so does what we do with it. You have been given great worth and value, do something with it.