“Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” Luke 19:13 ESV
Reflection: who are you when no one is around?
We were watching some YouTube clips yesterday, and came across a dad who wanted to check how his very young daughter would handle temptation versus her trust in him. He put a couple of chocolate covered donuts in front of her, and said she could have some when he got back some minutes later. But not until then. You could certainly tell the little girl was very tempted to take a bite. But in the end, her love for and trust in her dad was greater than the temptation, so she waited. A simple test, for a child. But made me think about how we each behave when no one is around. Because, in a way
Life brings out our character.
Each day, we all run into situations, and often people, where we have a choice of what to do. A test of character. Some are simple, while others can be very challenging. And our character is really on display in how we respond to these daily situations, the challenges and victories. We might, like the little girl, be tempted and can either trust in our heavenly Father, or fall for the temptation. Jesus, whom we follow if we call him Lord, barely took time to eat when the situation called for it, such as with the woman at the well. The disciples were concerned that he had not eaten, “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34 ESV. He had the bigger picture in mind; the soul of the woman, and the future of her city.
We see Jesus character on display all throughout his life, how he reacted to various situations. And Jesus gives us a pretty lengthy parable, found in Luke 19:11-27, referred to as the “Ten minas“. It is a rather strange title, but has some very valuable lessons for us to consider. In brief, the parable describes a kingdom, and the characters of the people in the kingdom while they wait for the King to return. The first group is of ten of the King’s servants that have been picked out. They are given each equally one “mina”, which is a weight measurement; not to be confused with money, but more like their allotted time and talents. And then they are all told to “‘Engage in business until I come.’” Luke 19:13 ESV. What will each of these servants do with their mina while the King is away?
Can the servants be trusted with just one mina?
One of the servants was able to multiply his mina tenfold. When the King returned, he praised this servant for his efforts and faithfulness, “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.’” Luke 19:17 ESV. He was rewarded by the King for his faithfulness. That he loved and trusted the King, like the little girl did of her dad. Similarly, one servant multiplied his mina fivefold. However, one did absolutely nothing with his mina, to whom the King was angry. “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?” Luke 19:22 ESV. The mina was taken from him and given to the one with ten. And finally, the parable points out those who rejected the King will be put to death.
The Lord has given each of us a mina, and creates opportunities for us all the time to multiply our mina while he is gone. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”Ephesians 2:10 ESV. While we wait for the King to return, what are we doing with it? Can the King trust us to do His good will and accomplish his good work?