A Parable of Money Usage
11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’14 “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15 “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.16 “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’22 “He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’24 “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’25 “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
Q- What is a parable?
A- A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Q- What are some examples of parables in the Bible?
A- The Prodigal Son, Pearl of Great Price, The Good Samaritan, among many others.
* mina= 100 day's wages
A. What is Biblical Stewardship?
1-Biblical stewardship is taking the main points of being a steward and applying them with a perspective according to God's word.
a) Being a good steward isn't easy.
b) Living within your means, saving, tithing.
2- In college, this can be especially difficult.
a) Disposable income is quickly disposed of.
3- If I were to give you $1000.00, what would you buy?
4- Why should we be good stewards?
a) God has called us to be good stewards.
v13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
b) Why let your money just sit? Invest! Put it into a bank and let it earn interest!
c) Be wise with what God has given you. (spiritual gifts, monetary blessings, special talents)
4- You reap what you sow.
B. Law of the Harvest:
Everyone Reaps:
- What you sow.
- More than you sow.
- Later than you sow.
1-When do farmers plant their crops?
a) Early, so the plants have time to grow and produce.
b) In the harvest, farmers reap what they sowed months earlier.
2- What are you planting/ sowing?
a) Good seeds vs. Bad seeds
b) For example:
- Physical Pursuits -> Healthy Living vs. Poor Choices
- Monetary Pursuits -> Investing/ Saving vs. Loose Spending
- Spiritual Pursuits -> Quiet Times, Genuine Worship vs. Lukewarm Christianity
3- What will you reap when you sow?
C. God rewards those who work for his glory, and rebukes those who do not.
v23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
v26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
1. The third servant made no attempt to increase his Master's wealth.
a) Do not bury your proverbial mina.
b) Are you doing your part to increase your Heavenly Father's kingdom?
c) Do not squander your money; save it or invest it.
2. God will only use us to the extent of what we put forth for Him to use.
a) If we give God everything: He will use everything.
v16 “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
b) Conversely, if we hold back from God: He will hold back his blessings.
v20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief".
D. Three Men and some Minas.
1. Which servant are you?
a) The one who made his master 10 times his money?
b) The one who made his master 5 times his money?
c) The one who failed his master and buried his mina?
2. God lifts up those who magnify Him.
v17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities".
a) Well done, good slave, you have been faithful.
b) 10 minas = 10 cities, 5 minas = 5 cities.
c) Make wise spiritual and monetary investments now so you can reap the bountiful benefits in the harvest.
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