Isn’t it incredible what Jesus did with one solitary life?
Imagine what he could do with yours! The need for Jesus’ followers to be people who will follow him into the hard places of our lost world is urgent for Jesus’ return is imminent. The Christ will return to judge his world and to reward his workers. Jesus’ disciples in Luke 19 understood that the kingdom of God would appear, but they thought it would appear immediately. Jesus teaches his hearers that the coming rule and reign of God leads not to our inactivity but to effective Gospel witness.
Jesus is King - He rules the world
Jesus speaks of himself as the one who rules (v12). He is clear about who calls the shots in this world. But his power is displayed in weakness for he is the rejected king (v14). Jesus turns our view of power and authority on its head. The Lord Jesus rules over his world, all judgement has been entrusted to him, a day has been set when he will bring humanity to account, yet his name is used as a term of derision, those who follow him, speak of him, and live lives that exhibit him are often rejected with him. His power and authority appears so weak and ineffective today, but when he returns his power and authority will be plain for the entire world to see. Until that day he has entrusted one life to each of us (v13) not to further our own fame, but His. Jesus will want to see what on earth we did with our one solitary life (v15).
Jesus is kind - He rewards the workers
Invest your life to the glory of God
The message of Jesus’ parable is clear: He rules, and He returns to reward the workers, so invest your life to the glory of God (v16-19). The opportunities are vast, the harvest is plentiful, and therefore we must view our world with Gospel glasses. Following Jesus into the hard places of this lost world may involve remaining where we are and pursuing our occupation with a Gospel agenda, showing those around us what it means to live with Jesus as King, and speaking the Gospel as opportunities are revealed. It may involve a Gospel motivated career move, working in the same occupation but in a different town or part of the world where there are less Gospel workers to meet the opportunities. Jon Fuller wrote ‘There are no God-forsaken places, there are just church forsaken places.’ It may involve a Gospel motivated career change where you invest all your time in reaching and teaching others for Christ. You may realise that the Holy Spirit has entrusted gifts to you that would be more effectively used through a local church. We have one solitary life, invest your life to the glory of God, consider the opportunities you face, talk to those who know you, pray that the Lord of the harvest would use you in his harvest field, but whatever you do, don’t play it safe!
Playing it safe is the most dangerous way to live.
Verse 20 implies it is possible to live an apparently responsible, outwardly respectable, recognisably religious life and spend an eternity regretting it (v21-24). Why is it that so many of Jesus’ followers play it safe? The servant kept his mina shiny out of fear. Does fear render us ineffective? Under the veil of respectability we don’t invest our lives to the glory of God. We invest in this world and all we are told we need, yet this may well threaten our future and remove our reward! Jim Elliot wrote ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose’. How we invest our lives today affects how we will live in eternity. Why is it that we fear that we will lose our respectable status or a valued relationship? The return of the king urges us to get our fears in order. Jesus said ‘… do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matthew 10.28). Phobic priority may well cure our missiological paralysis overnight. Let us come to the Lord Jesus with our fears for he is the kind King who longs to build our faith and reward the workers.
Much Gospel work may go unseen by those around us. Our lives may well be forgotten by other people, but Jesus does not miss a thing. It is sobering to see what Jesus does with those who waste their lives by playing it safe. It is life-changing to see what awaits those who invest their lives to the glory of God. We know what Jesus did with his one solitary life – what do you want him to do with yours?
Tim Silk, One of the ministers at Arborfield and Barkham Churches
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
1. Pray Jesus commanded the disciples, and us after them, to ‘ask the Lord of the harvest...to send out workers’.
2. Consider Prayerfully consider the possibility of full/ part-time gospel ministry now and for the future - keep it on the agenda for you and others.
3. Give Generously and prayerfully give to those directly involved in full or part time gospel ministry.