Thoughts for the Day

As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. So he said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.” But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” He said to him, “Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” Then the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” He said to him, “And you, rule over five cities.” Then the other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.” He said to the bystanders, “Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” (And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”) “I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we look at the Parable of the Pounds from Luke's Gospel. Jesus is speaking about the Kingdom of God - about the nobleman (ie a prince), the slaves (ie servants), and the enemies in the territory that is his kingdom. Jesus does not say he is the nobleman but his listeners would be in no doubt. He is being called away but will return once he has been invested as King of this world. In the meantime his servants are to use the small amount of money he has given them to earn more, while his enemies still probably seek to attack his servants. When he returns as King he will reward his servants as appropriate and deal with his enemies.

Jesus tells the parable as he leaves Jericho. He is on his way to Jerusalem where he will be welcomed by the people when he rides into the city with "Hosanna's", but those same people will clamour for his death a few days later. It is easy to deduce a meaning as we look at this some 2,000 years later, but where do we stand today as we wait for the return of our Lord and for his Kingdom to be completed?

We Christians are the servants left behind on earth. We are the ones who have all been given ten pounds. We are those who will have to account for the interest we have made on the money given to us. Our Lord has given us a measure of His trust in us, not in money, but by sharing His plans with us His children. At some point he will demand a reckoning - asking us how we have increased our faith; how we have showed our faith through our actions; how we have been faithful in our prayer life; and how we have shared our faith with those around us. The question is are faithless servants or faithful servants?

Lord Jesus Christ,
we have accepted Your call to be Your children,
and own that we have frequently forgotten this.
We have sometimes betrayed Your trust
and gone our own way,
putting our faith on the back-burner
in favour of the things of this world.
Help us to work harder at sharing our faith,
and spreading the gospel of Your Kingdom.
Amen.