Why did the servant hide the mina instead of investing it wisely? Setting the Scene • Luke 19:20: “Then another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.’” • A mina equaled about three months’ wages. The master intended it to be traded (v. 13). • The servant does not lose the money; he refuses to use it. A Heart Gripped by Fear • Luke 19:21 reveals his motive: “For I was afraid of you.” • Fear stifles initiative—2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” • Instead of faith-filled stewardship, the servant chooses self-protection. A Distorted View of the Master • He labels the master “a hard man” (v. 21). • The master had just rewarded others lavishly (vv. 17, 19), proving his generosity. • Hebrews 11:6: “Anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Doubting God’s goodness breeds inactivity. Laziness Masquerading as Prudence • Luke 19:22 calls him “wicked servant” (not merely cautious). • Proverbs 10:4: “Idle hands make one poor”; the mina in a cloth earns nothing. • Matthew 25:26 (parallel parable) links “wicked” with “lazy,” underscoring slothfulness. Neglect of Opportunity • Luke 19:23: the least he could do was place it with bankers. • James 4:17: “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” • Opportunities for ministry, witness, and service left on a shelf amount to disobedience. Misplaced Security • Hiding the mina felt safe—yet safety outside obedience is illusion. • Matthew 16:25: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.” • Real security lies in trusting the master’s instructions. Failure to Understand Accountability • Luke 19:15: the master “ordered these servants to be called to him, to find out what they had gained.” • 1 Corinthians 4:2: “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” • Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” Consequences of Burying Gifts • The mina is taken and given to the most faithful (v. 24). • Unused gifts shift to those who will honor the master. • John 15:8: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” Lessons for Today • View God rightly—good, generous, worthy of trust. • Replace fear with faith; step out even when outcomes seem uncertain. • Steward every resource—time, abilities, finances—for the kingdom. • Remember final accountability; invest daily with eternity in mind. |
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