How does Luke 19:24 illustrate the importance of using God-given resources wisely? Setting the Scene • Jesus tells the parable of the minas on His way to Jerusalem. • Ten servants each receive one mina—about three months’ wages—to manage while their nobleman-master is away. • The nobleman returns, settles accounts, and rewards or disciplines each servant based on what was done with the mina entrusted to him. Luke 19:24—The Key Verse “ ‘Then he said to those standing by, “Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” ’ ” The Principle of Stewardship • Everything we possess—time, abilities, opportunities, finances—belongs to God (Psalm 24:1; James 1:17). • God entrusts these resources so we may advance His purposes and bring Him glory (1 Peter 4:10–11). • Faithful stewardship involves diligent use, not passive preservation. The servant who hid the mina treated God’s gift as expendable rather than valuable. Consequences of Neglecting Stewardship • Loss of entrusted blessing: the idle servant forfeits even the little he has. • Public accountability: “those standing by” witness the judgment, underscoring that stewardship—or its neglect—never happens in isolation. • Shift of resources to faithful hands: God reallocates opportunities to servants proven trustworthy (Luke 16:10; 1 Corinthians 4:2). Practical Applications • Evaluate gifts and opportunities. List God-given resources under your care—skills, relationships, income, influence. • Engage them actively. Invest time in ministry, develop abilities, support gospel work financially, mentor others. • Expect multiplied impact. Like the servant who gained ten minas, faithful effort invites further kingdom assignments and eternal reward (2 Corinthians 9:6; Colossians 3:23-24). • Guard against complacency. Fear, laziness, or indifference can lead to buried potential and lost blessing. Supporting Scriptures • Matthew 25:28—Parallel warning in the parable of the talents. • Proverbs 3:9-10—Honor the Lord with your wealth; He supplies abundance. • Luke 16:11—“If you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?” • 2 Corinthians 5:10—Every believer appears before Christ’s judgment seat to receive what is due for deeds done in the body. |
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