Economics for Beginners
Opening Prayer
Coming King, help me to live as though I truly believe the world is Yours.
Read Luke 19:11–27
[11] While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. [12] He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. [13] So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ [14] “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ [15] “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. [16] “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ [17] “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ [18] “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ [19] “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ [20] “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. [21] I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ [22] “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? [23] Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ [24] “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ [25] “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ [26] “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. [27] But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-bring them here and kill them in front of me.'” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How was faithfulness rewarded?This is a tricky and twisty tale that most people merge in their minds with Matthew’s similar-but-different “parable of the talents” (Matt. 25:14–30). A “talent” was 60 “minas,” and a mina was what a minimum-wage worker might earn in three or four months. Matthew’s version has three entrepreneurs with substantial skill-related start-up loans. But Luke’s version of the parable has ten civil servants of a leader off to become king, and all are given the same modest initial funding. Luke only tells us about the first three servants’ experiences. One reaps 1000 percent, and is installed as leader of ten cities. One makes a return of 500 percent, and takes charge of five. The third stores the cash in used notes under a mattress. What? Could he not have deposited it in a trust where it would gain interest? The money is reassigned to the one put in charge of ten cities, to the bewilderment of all. But the real issue concerns who is on his way to becoming “king” (27). Jesus appears to be saying that we must live lives that reflect his kingship in every area of our dealings. He will, after all, turn out to be the King of the whole earth.
Apply
Use all the resources that God has given you to invest in what will last forever.
Closing prayer
God, give me eyes that are opened to the truly real and a heart that burns to live in light of eternity.
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