19 July 2009

The parable of the ten minas

I read in Luke 19 today, the parable of the Ten Minas. It tells a story of a nobleman who gave 10 minas to each of 10 servants and told them to "engage in business" until he returned (v 13). Two of the servants invested and reaped treasure on their investments, so the nobleman entrusted them with more. One servant did not invest because he knew the nobleman to be a "severe man." In verse 26, it reads, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

I was trying to reconcile this with Luke 18, which tells the story of the Rich Young Ruler. He keeps the whole law, but when he is told to give everything he owns to the poor, he becomes "very sad". 18:25 reads, " For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

In chapter 18, we read that it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, but in chapter 19, we read that to those who have, more will be given. The difference seems to be that in chapter 19, the faithful servants are investing the resources entrusted to them by God, whereas in chapter 18, the man's riches are his own, at least in terms of how he responds to them.

Those of us who have been entrusted with much may be entrusted with more, provided we invest it and see that everything we have belongs to the Father.

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