Luke 19:11-23
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?’
This parable of the minas is different from the parable of the talents. Here all 10 servants were given one mina each to invest while in the parable of the talents, the servants were given different amounts of money to invest. The parable of the talents tell of different servants given different abilities and the danger is for the person with relatively lesser ability to do nothing. The parable of minas tells of every servant been given the same amount but the difference in results is not due to differing amounts but to differing levels of diligence in investing the same amount.
Only 3 out of 10 servants gave account of what they did with the single mina given. The people thought that the Kingdom of God was going to appear very soon. Jesus wanted them to know that He would go away to be appointed King first and would come back later so there is a period of delay. Meanwhile, His disciples, who have been entrusted with the one same gospel, must put to work the gospel entrusted.
The first two servants were rewarded very handsomely for their faithfulness and diligence – reward of 10 or 5 cities for earning 10 or 5 minas more respectively !
The third servant did not invest the single mina as he had a completely different opinion of his Master. Instead of being a hard man as perceived, his Master was actually quite generous as seen in his reward for the first 2 servants. He did not really know his Master at all.
This third servant represents many in our church today who hardly know the mind of God – completely indifferent to God’s love and concern for the lost and His Kingdom. These Sunday Christians are always concerned about God’s blessings but not God’s interests. They will talk mostly about epicurean living – about their advancement of career, wise investments, fine living, fine dining, buying the latest toys, enjoying the most wonderful holidays and bragging about their children’s achievements, etc – because they believe the false teachers that abundant life is the abundance of every good thing in life. They do not know that they are the Rich Man in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man or the Rich Fool in the parable of the Rich Fool. How will they ever be interested to share the gospel with the poor and helping the needy ? Isa 58.
I believe this third servant never expect his Master to call him a wicked servant so do all these professing Christians today who is totally unconcerned about the purpose of God and His Kingdom to reach the lost. Because they are fed false cheap grace teaching that prosperity and indulgence is all their lot when they believe in Jesus. Never do they realize that whoever does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God ! 2 John 1:9-11 ESV. These professing Christians hardly know the mind of God when their minds are obsessed with wealth and indulgent epicurean lifestyle, not knowing the serious warning of our Lord not to be weighed down by dissipation and cares of this world. Luke 21:34.
(2 John 1: 9-11 ESV
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.)
At the very least, this servant can put the mina in the bank and earn interest as told by our Lord. That is, even if we do not have any opportunity to share the gospel with anyone, at least support those who are doing so such as supporting the missionaries and giving to missions.