August
20, 2003
HE
WHO IS FAITHFUL
"He
who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much;
and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much"
(Luke 16:10, NKJV).
"Therefore
if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon [material
wealth or possessions],
who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you
have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will
give you what is your own?"
(Luke 16:11, 12).
Jesus
told an interesting parable, "For
the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country,
who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another
one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately
he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents
went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and
hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those
servants came and settled accounts with them.
"So
he who had received five talents came and brought five other
talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents;
look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord
said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' "
And Jesus went on to tell about the man who received two talents
and the one who received 1 talent. See the story in Matthew
25:14-30. In the parable of the talents, Christ represents
the "man traveling to a far country." Jesus was
soon to depart from this earth to heaven. The "servants"
of the parable, represent the followers of Christ. We are
not our own. We have been "bought with a price"
(1 Corinthians 6:20), not "with corruptible things, as
silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ"
(1 Peter 1:18, 19); "That those who live should live
no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and
rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Christ's
followers have been redeemed for service. And those who recognize
what Christ has done for them will render loving service as
He has done for us. "And behold,
I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to
everyone according to his work" (Revelation 22:12).
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