Luke 19: FAITHFULNESS VS. REBELLION

 

As we meditate the Word of the Lord in Luke 19:11-27, it reminds us of the resources that God has given us to cultivate, use and invest on it.

This parable is like that of the talents in Matthew 25. Those that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he expects service. 

In this parable, a nobleman goes away to receive a kingdom and entrusts ten of his servants with minas, a form of currency. When he returns, he evaluates how the servants have used the minas in his absence.

The first servant brought a good report. He did business with his master’s mina, and had ten more to show for it. This was an impressive 1000% increase.

Because he demonstrated faithful handling of the master’s resources, he was given authority over ten cities in the kingdom his master just received.

The second servant brought another good report. He did business with his master’s mina and had five more to show for it – a 500% increase.

These two servants have demonstrated FAITHFULNESS to their master.

BUT the third servant did not have a good report. He did not obey the master’s command to do business till I come. He merely kept the master’s resources and did no good with them.

The master did not reward the third servant. Instead, he rebuked him because the great power of the master should have inspired the servant to greater diligence, not to disobedience and laziness.

Sometimes we do not understand the plan of the Lord because of our rebellious heart.

It was not to make money by his servants, but to make CHARACTER in them. He didn’t need them to make money, but they needed to work with him to BUILD THEIR CHARACTER.

HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE FAITHFUL TO THE LORD?

-       When we do the things that He asks us to do with 100% effort and no grudges, no complaining.

-       When we are always excited to serve Him even though we will not shine or we won’t get any recognition, or we are tired, or sick.

-       When we make sure we keep His commandments.

-       When we totally submit to His will.

 

HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE A REBELLIOUS HEART?

-       When we complain about everything, simple things, simple activities, simple tasks.

-       When we start counting our effort and contribution to the ministry and slowly refusing to participate.

-       When we are not excited anymore to do the things that we used to do and would always come up with excuses like – sick, tired, busy etc. When we love to do things, we never get tired.

-       When we already have the thought – bahala na sila diyan, tingnan natin kung ano mangyayari pag wala ako, tapos na ako diyan, sila naman, walang bawal bawal sa akin (bakit bawal ba?)

-       When there is no submission because we feel we are better, more prayerful and more capable than others.

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Let us check our hearts -   DO WE HAVE THE HEART OF THE FIRST 2 SERVANTS OR WE HAVE THE HEART OF THE 3^RD SERVANT?

Let us remember that the Lord will judge us according to our hearts. In verse 22, he warned us about our own words – He judged the 3^rd servant out of his own words.

²² And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow

In real life we are judged according to our actions and words as Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

We can always pretend we are obedient, we are loving, kind etc. but our words will betray us if we do not guard our heart. When we testify in the pulpit, expect that our words will be tested and we will be exposed.

A man testified about his obedience to the Lord, how he always obeys the Lord and how he dedicated his life to the preaching of the gospel.   After the service he was asked to go and visit a sick brother and he immediately excused himself saying he is busy. His true heart was exposed! No matter how sweet and noble is his testimony his true heart was revealed.

Let us pray: Lord may we find ourselves truly faithful and we rebuke the spirit of rebellion in my heart. Amen.