Friday, 23 March 2012

Trust, Test, Reward

Prepare: There is no such thing as standing still in the Christian life.
Read: Like 19: 11-27

This parable is quite unique, because it is the only parable part of which is based on an actual historical event. When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., he left his kingdom divided between Herod Antipas, Herod Philip and Archelaus. Archelaus became ruler of Judea thought the Jews did not wish to have him as king. The parable tells us about certain great facts of the Christian life.

It tells us of the king's trust. He gave his servants money and then he went away and left them to use it as they thought best. That is how God trusts us also.

It tells us of the king's test - whether or not a man was faithful and reliable in little things. Had Jesus not discharged with absolute fidelity the tasks of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth, God could never have given Him the supreme task of being the Saviour of the world.

It tells us the king's reward, which they could not enjoy by sitting down and doing nothing. The reward of work done was more work to do. The great reward of God to the man who has passed the test is more trust.

Finally it concludes with one of the inexorable laws of life- either get more to lose what you have. If we give up the battle and take the easy way, even the resistance power we once possessed will be lost and we will slip back from even the little height to which we had attained.

Respond: The best thing about God is that He trusts us to do so much by ourselves.  

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