Thoughts for the Day

Occasional series of Christian reflections

Day 27

Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken …
        Matthew 25:29

Today I’m considering another parable that Jesus used to described what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, the parable of the Bags of Gold (each equivalent to 20 years’ labourer’s wages).  Three servants are given respectively five, two and one Bag to steward, ‘according to their abilities’.  Those given five and two double their investments and get commended by their master, while the third buries his in the ground and gets a roasting for being wicked and slothful.  On this occasion, Jesus adds a punchline to the parable, “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Did Jesus really say that … or at least, what did he mean?  It plays rather well in our performance-driven culture.  The highest flier gets the biggest bonus and the shirker gets thrown out.  But how is this a model for the Kingdom of Heaven?

Our culture predisposes us to value people according to their abilities.  But pointedly the response of the master (aka God) to the two diligent servants is identical.  Arguably, the allocation was made ‘according to their abilities’ precisely to give them all the same level of challenge, and the master’s interest is in what they have done with what they were given, not in their abilities.  It is also implicit in the master-servant relationship that the gains all belong to God.  Indeed, that looks like part of the wicked servant’s complaint, “You reap where you haven’t sown” seems to imply he saw nothing in it for him.

But he was wrong.  In this picture of the Kingdom, God entrusts abilities and opportunities to us to use for His glory, and the reward (described as ‘sharing in their master’s joy’) brings much blessing.  And, tragically, by rejecting the opportunity he stood to lose everything.

Nick

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One response to “Day 27”

  1. Chrispo Okello Avatar
    Chrispo Okello

    Very interesting parable by Jesus!
    Thank you for this, every time I think of this parable as a believer, It reminds me of the Lord’s return and it seems like this same question or expectations of accountability in the parable will be referred to us on that day.

    Like you said ” the allocation was made ‘according to their abilities’ precisely to give them all the same level of challenge, and the master’s interest is in what they have done with what they were given, not in their abilities. Your recent post challenged us to think about proclaiming the gospel of repentance and forgiveness and therefore our Lord master Jesus has given his church a mandate to do.

    As a Church ( believers ) are we ready for our Lord’s return? And before He comes, How are we utilizing whatever the Lord has given us?
    Glory to His name.

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