SCRIPTURE
“Do business till I come.” Luke 19:13b NKJV
“Well done, good servant... Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:17 NKJV
SPOTLIGHT
On March 31, 1987, the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Syracuse Orangemen, in the last four seconds of the basketball game, with a 16-foot jump shot by a player named Keith Smart. Before the game, Smart heard a speech from John Havlicek, a former Boston Celtic star: “He just told us that this was the national championship game and that we might not ever be in this position again. He said to do everything we could so that when the game was over, we wouldn’t be able to say to ourselves, “If we only did this,” or, “If we only did that.” I know everybody was moved by it… it was the best speech I’ve ever heard. When he finished, I was almost crying. I went over to Indiana University’s center, Dean Garrett, and he was almost crying too.”
A similar speech was given by Jesus Christ just before He went to the cross. You can read about it in, Luke 19:11-27. He told His disciples a parable about a nobleman giving money to 10 servants. The nobleman was going away so he instructed them to make money until he returned. When he came back, he required each servant to give an account as to what he had done with the money. The first servant had made 10 minas from the 1. The second servant had made 5, but the third servant had made nothing. Jesus was challenging the disciples to wisely invest their time, talents, and treasures in doing something that would bring Him honor.
Stop for a moment. God created you and blessed you with capabilities to be used on planet earth to influence people to worship and obey Jesus Christ. Somebody influenced you. So, ask yourself how wisely you are using your time, talents, and treasures to honor your Savior and Lord? Are you using the abilities He has given to bring great glory to Him?
The parable can be divided into a pregame and postgame sequence. The pregame part is motivational. Jesus Christ says, “Do business till I come.” [Luke 19:13.] After the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven promising to return to take believers to be with Him. Until that return, which is called the Rapture, Jesus is expecting every believer to be responsible and faithful to use his/her God-given gifts, to influence people to become believers. This requires 100% of your attention. You hear Jesus saying to be busy doing God’s work, not just yours. Your heart should be thumping. Your eyes should be filled with tears. Your attitude should be, “Let’s go!” You should count it a privilege to be a Christian player on planet earth playing in the game of life. The goal is to populate heaven and depopulate hell.
The second part is commendation. This is the postgame. Christ says, “Well done, good servant.” [Luke 19:17.] These are the words you want to hear from Jesus. This is the highest commendation that every Christian will hear if he has faithfully used his time, talents, and treasures to win others to Christ. Once again, he will be very attentive. His heart will pound, his eyes will be filled with tears and his attitude will be, “Thank you, Jesus! I counted it the highest privilege to have served You and now be honored by You!”
Don’t let anything distract you from doing your best for Jesus. Guard yourself against Christ having to reprove you for having wasted your life, abilities, and wealth, as He did in Luke 19: 23,24. Let today’s Scripture be the best speech you will ever hear.
SOMETHING TO DO
Rather than you deciding what God-given abilities you have, ask someone who follows Jesus and knows you well. Give that person an opportunity to pray and ponder about this before you sit down to talk about it. Have him/her consider the following questions:
#1. What do I do well?
#2. What am I not doing that you think I may be able to do?
#3. What group of people do I best communicate with?
#4. Do I wisely use the time God has given me?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, before Your return, I want to be someone who is using his/her time, treasures, and talents well. Give me insight as to how to accomplish this. You have changed my life. You have given me eternal life. And You have given me the great privilege of telling people the Good News. Show me how I can faithfully be responsible to use the gifts You have blessed me with. I want my life to bring great glory and honor to You! AMEN.