There
is nothing like the excitement of waiting for a child to be born. I remember the mix of excitement and
nervousness sitting in the hospital room waiting to go back for the delivery. Yet the waiting and preparation for the baby
begins long before the delivery. Expectant mothers have to prepare their bodies
for delivery by eating healthy and hydrating ensuring their blood pressure and
vitals are correct. Expectant fathers have to say goodbye to their office or
“man cave” by transforming it into a nursery. Parents have to assemble the
crib, paint the walls new colors, and hang the appropriate pictures. There are showers for the baby to load up on
clothes and diapers. Expectant parents know the baby is coming, and when they
know the baby is coming they engage in preparing for the arrival.
In
this waiting and expectation, Christians are like expectant parents. We know God is going to come and will deliver
his kingdom. And because we know his arrival is coming, we must engage in
preparing for His arrival. Many Jews
believed that the Messiah was going to come as a powerful political king
restoring the nation of Israel. They
supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. Ask any expectant mother at month 7 and they
will tell you that they are ready for the baby to be born, but they do not have
any control over the timing of the delivery.
We do not have control over the timing of the Lord’s return. We know that it is going to happen, but all
we can do is to wait for it. Luke 19:11,
As they heard
these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem,
and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Jesus shared this parable to
illustrate that His kingdom will not be fully established until some later
date. In this parable Jesus shows three distinct groups of people. I pray that
the Holy Spirit clarifies which group you are in and convicts you to respond
accordingly. Let me frame this passage by asking you three questions, the
first,
Are you Engaging
in Kingdom Business?
Luke 19:12-19,
He said therefore,
“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then
return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them,
‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a
delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When
he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he
had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had
gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina
has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because
you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten
cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’
And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ (Luke 19:12-19)
The parable is of a nobleman who
went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom. Before he left, he
called ten of his servants together giving them each one mina (or about 3
months salary) and tells them, “Engage in business until I come.” These ten
servants were called to engage in the King’s business while he was away to
prepare for his return. In this way the nobleman represents Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ returned home and was given all
power and dominion and authority, seated at the right hand of the God. He has gone to receive a kingdom.
This is an interesting
parable for Luke’s gospel. For most of Luke’s gospel he mentions the kingdom
being near or present, but here Luke is speaking about the kingdom that is to
come. This is where we get the “already, but not yet” theology of the
kingdom. Jesus Christ has brought the
kingdom to us in part, but will one day bring the kingdom to us
completely. So we are called to live in
the “already” (born again, redeemed, holy, righteous people of God) and the
not-yet (still living in the flesh, battling the world and the devil). Jesus has already won us the victory, but we
have not experienced ceasefire.
I think one of
the key phrases of this parable is at the end of verse 13, “Engage in business
until I come.” We see two realities here: what we are called to do- engage in
the King’s business, and how long we are called to do it – until Christ
comes. We see in the parable what
happens when the King returns. It says
in verse 15, “When he returned, having received the kingdom,” he is coming back
after fully establishing the kingdom. He calls all the servants to him and
judges their engagement in the master’s business. The first two servants
provide a return for the investment. I love the interchange with the first
servant and the master, verses 16-17,
The first came before
him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him,
‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you
shall have authority over ten cities.’
This man is rewarded for his
faithfulness. He has been faithful with little so he has been entrusted with
much. God will always reward the faithfulness of his people.
I love those
words, “well done.” The task is
over. The race has been run. The job is finished. Well done!! These words
are promised for all who engage in kingdom business, so how do you know if you
are engaging in kingdom business? First
of all, it doesn’t mean that you are saved, because of your work, but rather
your engagement in work is a sign that you are saved, for Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the
branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Engaging in kingdom business
does not earn us merit with God, but proves that we are abiding in Jesus. So another
way to frame the question is, “Are you abiding or remaining in Christ?” Paul
uses the similar concept of walking throughout his epistles. Are you walking with Christ? Are you abiding
in Christ? This is kingdom engagement.
Or yet another way
to look at engaging in kingdom business would be to ask, “Are we being good
stewards of the lives God have given us? The nobleman gave each servant a mina
and then judged them based on their stewardship. So are we using our money, our
talents, and our time for kingdom business?
Paul weds both these concepts together in Ephesians 5,
Look carefully then how you walk, not
as unwise but as wise, making the best
use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine,
for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, addressing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21)
Making the best use of your time is
intimately connected to serving and living together with one another.
We can divorce
spirituality from Christ and his people. I hear many people say that they do
not attend church because they are more spiritual than religious. Although it may sound trendy and be a
cultural buzzword, biblical spirituality cannot be divorced from Christ and his
people. Theologian and Biblical scholar,
Andreas Kostenberger writes,
“Growth in
spirituality is evidenced in the form of active obedience, love, mission, and
corporate unity and peace. We therefore progress in spirituality (engage in
kingdom business) as we express love for others in practical and concrete ways,
make our day-by-day decisions in obedience to God’s commands, involve
ourselves, in the fulfillment of God’s mission in the world, and promote peace
and unity within God’s church.[1]
All that to say is that one of the
most profound and biblical ways to engage in kingdom business is to be a
faithful member in a local church.
Love each other
during difficult times. Forgive and bear with each other when you are offended.
Visit widows regularly. Give cards on special days. Grieve with each
other. Pray for each other’s lost family
members. Rejoice with those who
rejoice. Outdo one another in showing
honor. In this age where radical
spirituality is promoted, wouldn’t it be surprising that the greatest kingdom
business we can engage in is right here in the local church. Our love for God will almost always be
expressed in concrete acts of love to others.
Be a faithful church member and be confident that you are engaging in
kingdom business.
Second question:
Are you Ignoring Kingdom Business?
If we are not
engaging in kingdom business, we may be ignoring it. And there are grave
consequences for ignoring kingdom business, Luke 19:19-26,
Then another came,
saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for
I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not
deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you
with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man,
taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you
not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with
interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give
it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten
minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the
one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This servant did not receive is
commendation, but a condemnation. He was
condemned because he did not respond in loving obedience to the King.
Let’s
analyze this servant’s attitude and character.
First, he was afraid of the master because he believed him to be a
severe man. He did not trust his
graciousness and kindness, but lived in a state of fear. 1 John 4:18, “There is
no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with
punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” Second, he was lazy and selfish. If he was
truly afraid, he would have been motivated to try and bring a return, but his
fear never changed his behavior. His
laziness and selfishness causes him to ignore kingdom business. Lasty, he is wicked, verse 22, “I will
condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant.” So his fearful,
self-serving lazy, wicked attitude brought him condemnation.
A
very similar parable is told in Matthew 25.
The servant was rebuked in Matthew 25 by the master with these words,
‘You wicked and
slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I
scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers,
and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take
the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone
who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who
has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant
into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.’ (Matthew 25:26-30).
Luke does not have such a stinging,
clear end. The wicked servant in Matthew ends in Hell, the place of outer
darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Now
remember Jesus told this parable to those who thought the kingdom of God was
going to come immediately. There was
going to be some considerable time between the first and second coming of
Christ. This passage is an encouragement
to those who are engaging in kingdom business to press on and remain steadfast,
but this passage is also a warning to those who are part of the community yet
are ignoring kingdom business. In a
church community, there are some of you who need to be encouraged in your
gospel engagement, while there are others they need to be warned. For if you
are ignoring kingdom business, indifferent in loving one another, refusing to
use your gifts to build up the body, desiring to be served rather than to
serve, withholding forgiveness from others, stirring up strife, harboring
bitterness, etc., you may not a good and faithful servant of Christ.
The
great Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo said the church will always be a
mixed community. True believers will
always be among false believers. Jesus
shared the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13,
27 So
the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed
in your field? How then does it have tares?’28 He said
to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us
then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said,
‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with
them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest,
and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together
the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my
barn.”’” (Matthew 13:27-30 NKJV)
Jesus said, “Let them both grow
together until the harvest time,” then the separation will come.
Farmers are very
familiar with wheat and tares. If you
look at baby wheat and baby tares, they are indistinguishable. It is impossible to tell the difference until
the harvest. Both the wheat and tares are harvested in the spring. The tare
stands tall and proud while the wheat bows from its weight. It is a great illustration. The tare, like
the wicked servant, stands tall in his pride, not truly recognizing the King
while the wheat bows in humble submission the one who has received the
kingdom. Those ignoring kingdom business
are usually those too proud to humble themselves in service of others. Be
warned that there is a judgment awaiting all those who did not recognize Christ
as the true king.
Third Question,
Are you Against
Kingdom Business?
The previous
warning was to those who are in the community, but the last group Jesus
addresses in this parable, are those who reject him. Verse 14, “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation
after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” It was common in
those days, for Jews to send a delegation to oppose someone’s reign. Jewish
Historian Josephus mentions one such time when the Jews sent a delegation to
oppose Archelaus’s reign. The Jews
despised him for he massacred 3,000 Jews during one Passover so the citizens
referenced in verse 14 would have
been receive by the audience as a clear reference to the Jews hatred of Jesus.[2]
Jesus finished the parable with these words regarding the Jews, “But as for
these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here
and slaughter them before me.’” These enemies do not hear his words only feel
his wrath.
The
truth is that all of us at one time were enemies of God. We were wicked
servants rejecting our King’s reign for our own rule. Jesus Christ is the only
true King. He came to us, his
enemies. He was born as a man, lived a
perfect life, and died for all those who want Jesus to reign over them. He came as a man died and was resurrected
from the dead. And after showing himself to his disciples, God exalted Him the
highest place giving Him full authority over His Kingdom as the one true
King. His kingdom will not come
immediately, but it will come. And when
it comes, no one will be able to stand, except for those who have already been
humbled and have invited Jesus to reign over them as King. Jesus is the only
true King, but the greatness of his reign is that it started in death so that
we could live. Who would not want to follow a King that would die for them?
So
which words will you hear on that day? Well done, my good and faithful servant,
you have been faithful with little so you will receive much? Or you lazy,
wicked servant, you are condemned with your own words? You can know today what
words you are going to hear on that day. All true citizens of the kingdom of
heaven who engage in kingdom business will be rewarded for their faithfulness.
Engage in kingdom business, until He comes.
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