Eternal Rewards

A wake up call

The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey and the responses of the class.

1. The parable of the pounds

   Before the class started, one class member commented that, regarding wake up calls, our time is short. Then he quoted James 4:14.

   ‭Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14 NIV‬)

   The main point of this parable is that we must trust the Master and faithfully invest what He gives us to maximize the return because we will all be called to account someday when Jesus returns.

   Do you believe the Lord has given you anything to invest to maximize His return? If so, what is it?

   One class member noted that he had been faithful with an audience of students. A second class member noted that she had followed the commands to love, comfort, and share the gospel. A third class member noted that salvation was a gift. Therefore, to do things that will please the Messiah who gave the gift should come as second nature.

   While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ “He was made king, however, and returned home. 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.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ” (‭Luke 19:11-27 NIV‬)

2. The setting

   Just out of curiosity, is your Kingdom anticipation running high? Explain.

   In response, one class member noted that he wanted to stand before the glassy sea and present his crowns to Christ. He also felt a burden toward the people around him. A second class member noted the world events show the nearness of Christ, but too many reject that nearness.

   While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. (Luke 19:11 NIV)

   Jesus told this parable to allay people’s incorrect expectations about the arrival of the kingdom. He wanted them to know how they should live between His going away and coming again.

3. The story

   Jesus used the familiar story of Archelaus as the backdrop for this parable. He pictured Himself as a nobleman going away to receive a kingdom and His followers as His servants whom He had left behind to do business with His resources while they awaited His return.

   Every believer has a mina.

   Jesus wants us to know what we are supposed to do in his absence. We are to be actively doing business for Him with what He has entrusted to us.

   Ask yourself, “what is my mina?” and “what am I doing with the mina entrusted to me?”

   When Jesus, the true King, returns, there will be an accounting or day of reckoning. Every servant will be required to give an account for what they have done. Whatever you did with your mina will be fully revealed.

   “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ (Luke 19:16 NIV‬)

   One class member noted that the servent replied in three ways: Sir (or Master), “your mina,” and “your mina earned ten times 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 19:17 NIV‬)

   One class member, pointing back to Luke 19:16, observed that all is owned by God.

   We see that the greater the faithfulness in this life, the greater the reward and responsibility in the next.

   ‭“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ (Luke 19:19-21 NIV‬)

   One class member noted that his study Bible said that verse 19 was about “hetero” (another of a different kind rather than another of the same kind).

   Another class member noted that their commentary said that this servant may have buried the money with intent of keeping it. He did not believe that the master would come back. Putting it in the bank would create a record of the master’s ownership of the money.

   Was the third servant a true believer who loses his reward or a person who professes to know Christ but has no relationship with Him?

   I am inclined to believe he is a false follower.

   ‭Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. (Luke 19:20 NIV‬)

   ‭“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? (Luke 19:22 NIV‬)

   Why did he hide the mina?

   Why didn’t the third slave invest the mina?

   The first two servants were faithful; the third was not.

   Here is a sobering truth: What we do with the mina ultimately reveals what we think of the Savior. What each servant thought of the nobleman was revealed by what he did with the mina.

   What does the investment of the entrustment of the mina to you as a follower of Jesus say about what you think of Jesus?

   ‭But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ” (Luke 19:27 NIV‬)

   We see that there are three groups of people who will be called to account:

   • Rewards for the faithful
   • Rejections for the false servants
   • Retribution for the enemies

   This embraces all humanity. Are you confident about which group are you in? Do you know anyone in groups #2 and #3? If so, are you investing anything into those groups with the truth that has been entrusted to you?

4. The significance
   • The King is coming. His return is certain.
   • While we are waiting for His return, are we investing the mina that the Lord has entrusted to us? Are we investing in things that will last? What we do with the mina entrusted to us will define our life for eternity.
   • Christ expects a spiritual return on His investment. Maximize it. He doesn’t intend on saying, “well intended” or “well thought” or “well planned.”