“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.’ ” (Luke 19:15-17)
In Jesus’ story, the nobleman/future king gave 10 servants 10 “minas” each with instructions to “put this money to work until I come back.” A mina was about 3 months wages. Ten of them would be a lot of money. Today’s passage describes the best earner.
Jesus was saying to those who would continue to follow him after he had gone back to heaven, “I’m expecting you to invest what I have given to you and to make it grow until I return—and I will reward you for it in a big way.”
What had Jesus given them, especially the 12 disciples? As the Creator, he had given them strength, talents, skills, and abilities. As the Savior, he had given them 3 years of intensive training—3 years of himself.
What has Jesus given to you? How are you investing that for the King?
Think: In the story, the servant who earned the most for the king got the biggest reward. Do you think God wants us to be motivated to invest our lives for him because of the reward he will give to us in return? Why or why not?
Pray: Ask God to help you to invest the gifts he has given to you in a way that pays off for his glory and usefulness.
Do: Make a quick list of things you did during this last month or so that could qualify as investing God’s gifts to you in a way to put them to work for him.