Do you remember the early days of
advertising on TV? The adverts were short and few. Then, in the shops
the goods were on display with a notice that read "As seen on TV". The
goods sold like hot cakes and often we would buy things we didn’t need
and so we grew a culture of consumerism!
In Luke 12 Jesus was asked a question
about possessions. In verse 15 Jesus replied ‘A man’s life does not
consist in the abundance of his possessions’. He then gave a word
picture of a farmer who was blessed with a good crop and so planned to
extend his barns and have a good life. But God said ‘You fool! This very
night your life will be required of you, Then who will get what you have
prepared for yourself?’ verse 20. Our foolishness is revealed when we
forget that Jesus taught us: ‘Seek first His (that is God’s) kingdom and
His righteousness, and all these things (the necessities of life) will
be given to you.’ Luke 6.33. Where does this leave us?
Jesus gave us another word picture: In
Luke 19.11-27, He speaks of a man who left ten servants to work with
some of his money while he is away.
Each is given the same amount and is
instructed to invest with it till he returns. In a way this can be
compared with Jesus giving us the great commission in Matthew 28.
We have the task of investing the good
news in people till Jesus comes again! That is mission. Note this: we
all have the same spiritual capital – a living relationship with God
through Jesus and the instruction to share it with all people! We also
have the same length of time – till Christ comes again! All that is
different, is our abilities and our attitude. In verse 26 Jesus gives
His standard for measuring us: ‘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 from him.’
In Jesus’ teaching, verses 16 to 20, the
first two servants are rewarded for their work. Each one of us has
different abilities to use it the service of God. They are God given and
are for use in our service of other people in mission. We can assume
that all the servants were rewarded except one. He did nothing with the
money. His attitude was wrong and what he had was taken from him!
Is this teaching salvation by works? Not
at all. What we learn is that we are accountable for how we use our
abilities, time and money in serving God in the mission of His church!
When last did you stop and compare how much of your abilities and time
are spent on yourself as compared with what we spend in serving of God?
The church is criticised for asking
people to give a tenth of their income, but I ask are we prepared to
give a tenth of our abilities, money and time to build up the mission of
the church and God’s kingdom?
Prayer: Lord, teach us how to use the
gifts You have given us in serving You.
Amen.