Luke 19:11-27

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Our passion is to experience and express grace.

Join us.

Turn with me to Luke 19.

Back in Luke this morning after a sweet celebration last week of God's faithfulness to Southwood.

And remember as we turn back to Luke, Jesus has been journeying to Jerusalem for several chapters now.

He's getting close.

And the followers of Jesus, they have expectations for what's going to happen when we get to Jerusalem, right?

This is significant.

Mostly they have misguided expectations.

That Jesus wants to clarify for them so they will know what it will take to follow Him.

And so He tells this challenging parable this morning that we're going to read.

Let's read it together and then ask for God's help.

This is Luke 19 at verse 11.

God's holy word.

As they heard these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable because He was near to Jerusalem

and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

He said, therefore,

a nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas and said to them,

engage in business until I come.

But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him saying,

we do not want this man to reign over us.

And when he returned, having received the kingdom,

he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him

that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

And the first came before him saying,

Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.

And he said to him, well done, good servant.

Because you have been faithful in a very little,

you shall have authority over ten cities.

And the second came saying,

Lord, your mina has made five minas.

And he said to him, and you are to be over five cities.

Then another came saying,

Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief.

For I was afraid of you because you're a severe man.

You take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.

He said to him, I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant.

You knew that I was a severe man taking what I did not deposit

and reaping what I did not sow.

Why then did you not put my money in the bank?

And at my coming, I might have collected it with interest.

And he said to those who stood by,

take the mina from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.

And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas.

I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given.

But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them,

bring them here and slaughter them before me.

We need to pray and ask for God's help.

Father, we do ask that you would teach us from your word.

Would you give us hearts to hear?

Would you work by your spirit that we might not just know more about you,

that we might know you more, know who you are?

Show us yourself.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Many of you have asked me over the years how I tricked Christi into marrying me,

which is a very fair question to ask, and I'm not 100% sure myself.

She's amazing.

I married way up, and you've all noticed.

But, you know, I'd heard that marriage was hard, and all the things that people tell you,

but I figured that as many of us do, that I'd found someone so wonderful, you know?

And we loved each other so much that it was actually going to be pretty easy for us.

I mean, honestly, that's what I was thinking when we were engaged.

It was really this feeling that it was as though I'd worked so hard up to that point in my life,

convincing people to like me, and then convincing her to like me enough to marry me,

that now I'd done it, like I'd reached the pinnacle, and it was all downhill from here.

Life would just be coasting, right?

I expected I'd arrived, only to find out that I'm actually harder to live with than I imagined.

And when two sinners get married, even when they really love each other, it takes hard work

and an investment in that relationship.

It's so worth it, but it costs more than I expected.

Jesus' disciples and others who are following Him as He heads to Jerusalem

have struggled to understand what's going to happen when they get there.

Jesus knows He's headed to be mocked, beaten, killed.

He's told them that.

And He knows that the eternal kingdom that He's come to establish is still going to be well in the future.

And He wants His followers to be prepared for this delay in their victory parade, so to speak,

that they think they're walking into, for them to have right expectations.

And so He tells this story.

It's a story, the one we just read.

It probably didn't remind you of this,

but it would have reminded Jesus' followers of another king coming to Jerusalem around this time.

It would have helped them see that you don't just walk into Jerusalem and make yourself king.

It's a brief history note, I promise.

Archelaus was one of the sons of King Herod.

King Herod, the one who ordered that all the babies be killed when Jesus was born.

When Herod split his kingdom among his three sons,

he gave Archelaus the part of the kingdom that included Jerusalem,

and he gave him the title of king.

But you see, Rome was in charge, not Herod.

If you really wanted to be king, you had to go to Rome.

So Archelaus journeyed a long way to Rome to receive a kingdom.

That's what this parable is referencing.

And the Jews sent a delegation, like is discussed here.

Fifty people who journeyed all the way to Rome just to plead,

don't let Archelaus be our king.

See, Herod and his sons were ruthless.

They didn't want them ruling over them.

And Archelaus, after journeying to Rome,

was sent home with some authority in that area,

but without the title of king, which he would never earn.

In fact, ten years after this,

another delegation would go from Jerusalem to Rome

and actually get Archelaus removed from power altogether.

You don't just walk into Jerusalem and become king overnight.

Jesus is reminding his followers of that.

It's not all downhill from here.

Jesus is about to embark on a long journey to receive a kingdom and then return.

And his followers will need to know how to live in the meantime.

They're going to have to struggle.

They have to wait.

And as with marriage,

they will pay a high cost for pursuing Jesus' kingdom.

But it will be worth investing in.

That's what Jesus is telling them here.

It's the primary point of this parable.

Jesus wants his followers to know

that although his kingdom is not coming immediately as they envisioned it,

it is coming.

And so giving yourself passionately and zealously without fear to his kingdom

is an eternally wise investment.

It was true for them then.

He wanted them to hear it.

It's true for us now.

He wants us to hear it today.

Now, it's not all good news, is it?

Jesus also references this delegation against the king.

Verse 14 and then at the end, verse 27.

And there is a serious warning not to be ignored

that if you work to have the king removed,

to refuse his rule and reign,

there's swift and serious eternal death awaiting you.

Those are strong words.

Strong words for those outwardly and actively opposing King Jesus

then and now.

There would be many in this camp that they'd encounter

when they got to Jerusalem, right?

Crying for him to be crucified.

And there are many today.

But the focus of the parable

is on those who would be servants of the king.

There's warning for them as well.

We'll see in a minute.

But let's notice the faithful servants first.

Verse 13.

The future king, before he leaves,

gives them gifts

and tells them to use them well

until he returns.

Verse 13.

Calling ten of his servants,

he gave them ten minas, one each,

and said to them,

engage in business until I come.

Now, I know you don't deal in minas a lot.

I understand.

A mina is a generous gift.

It represents about three months' wages

in those days.

So, if you make $40,000 a year,

that's a $10,000 gift

that you're to use for the king's purposes.

So, keep that number in mind.

In verse 16,

the report from the first servant

is that he's made ten times that.

A hundred thousand dollars

with the $10,000.

That's really good work, right?

Yes?

You don't get that kind of return every day.

But listen to the king's response.

Verse 17.

He said to him,

Well done, good servant.

Because you have been faithful in a very little,

you shall have authority over ten cities.

Whoa!

In charge of ten cities.

This king is way more generous

than we realized, isn't he?

I mean, he gave the initial gift anyway.

It was his mina that was stewarded.

And when it's steward faithfully,

he gives responsibility far beyond

what was earned.

Oversight of ten cities.

Made a hundred thousand bucks.

Why don't you run ten cities?

It happens again with the next servant

who makes five times what he started with

and is given oversight of five cities.

Side note,

not the primary point of the parable.

Did you know we're going to have

meaningful work to do

in the new heavens and new earth?

In Jesus' kingdom.

It's not just harps and clouds.

It's just exciting to me to realize

he didn't give them oversight of ten clouds

and five clouds.

But ten cities.

Five cities.

Work is pre-fall.

God created it and created us for it.

So we have an eternal kingdom

where the king loves

and labors alongside his faithful servants.

Listen, Jesus is saying,

there's work to be done

for the sake of my kingdom

while I'm gone.

I'm giving you gifts

so that you can do it

and when I return,

faithful servants

who've invested those gifts

will receive glory beyond imagination.

You need to know that

because it's about to be hard.

But the story turns, doesn't it?

As the third servant arrives.

And I've got to imagine,

as Jesus tells it,

that this guy's sheepishly

walking up to the king now

and unfolding his handkerchief.

I kept your mina.

Verse 20.

Another came saying,

Lord, here's your mina

which I kept laid away in a handkerchief.

For I was afraid of you

because you're a severe man.

You take what you did not deposit

and reap what you did not sow.

And the king calls him

a wicked servant

and says,

even if it was true

that I was like that,

you could have at least

put the money in the bank

to make some interest.

Now I'm taking your mina away.

Verse 24.

Take the mina from him.

Give it to the one who has ten.

And they said,

Lord, he has ten.

I tell you,

to everyone who has,

more will be given.

But from the one who has not,

even what he has

will be taken away.

Listen,

this is not economic policy.

Don't read that.

It's part of the parable

where Jesus is explaining

that faithfulness

in small responsibilities

leads to greater responsibilities.

And unfaithfulness

in small things

leads to less.

Jesus is calling his followers

to labor for his kingdom

while they face a hard season

of waiting apart from him.

So we need to think about

what that means for us.

For how we follow Jesus

and invest his gifts

for his kingdom

while we await his return as king.

It's important as we do that

for us to understand

the mind and the heart

of the third servant.

Why

did he not invest

for the king?

What does he say?

He says he was

fearful

of the king.

Afraid the king

would punish

any mistakes he made.

So,

what did he do?

He played it safe.

Verse 21,

I was afraid of you

because you're a severe man.

You take what you did not deposit

and reap what you did not sow.

Severe.

Looking to take what's not his.

Trying to hoard things to himself

and take advantage of others.

Is that what this king is like?

Does the handkerchief servant

perceive his character correctly

in this story?

No way.

He's not like that at all.

This king is magnanimous

in his generosity.

He's unmatched

in his grace.

And handkerchief servant's

unfaithful stewardship

is a result

of not knowing

the king's heart.

Isn't it?

He acts fearfully

because he doesn't truly know

the kindness

and generosity

of the king.

I'm reading

an abridged version

of Little Women

to Lily right now

with three girls.

Little Women

is a classic

in our house.

A fan favorite.

Early in the book

we find out

that the March girls

have a neighbor

named Mr. Lawrence.

And Beth

in particular

being young

is afraid

of old

Mr. Lawrence.

but occasionally

she slips

into his house

to play the piano

as long as she can

avoid seeing him.

And so Mr. Lawrence

notices this

and wanting

her to know

his kindness

wanting to have

a relationship

with her

what does he do?

What does old

Mr. Lawrence do?

If you've read the book

you know

he buys

or gets

a piano

and it shows up

in the March house

as a gift

for Beth.

shows up

out of nowhere

an extravagant gift

to be sure

a piano

that shows up

in her house

and she sees it

and Beth is overjoyed

and what does she do

immediately?

She sees the gift

and she runs

next door

all the way

into his office

and throws herself

into Mr. Lawrence's arms.

They become fast friends.

Through his

thoughtful gift

he shows himself

to be kind

and loving

and generous

and fearful

Beth

becomes joyful

and confident

in their friendship.

Maybe you're not a fan

of little women

I understand that

but you know

this classic character

from one story

or another

who when his

true heart

is known

changes the way

that people act

toward him.

I want you to think

of one this morning

that you know

and that you love.

Think of a character

in a movie

or a book you've read.

Maybe it's

Shovel Guy Marley

in Home Alone.

You know him.

Kevin fears

he's a serial killer

but he ends up

rescuing Kevin

in the end

doesn't he?

And they sit

warmly

on a pew

in the church

as new friends.

Maybe it's Mr. Myrtle

in The Sandlot.

James Earl Jones

playing an older man

with a dog

called The Beast

whose backyard

is the most

dangerous place

in the whole neighborhood

nobody ever comes out alive.

Until they meet

Mr. Myrtle

and he gives them

an autographed baseball

that cements

their new friendship

and what a great guy

he turns out to be.

Maybe it's the mysterious

Boo Radley

in To Kill a Mockingbird

whom Scout and Jim

make up fearful stories about

because they don't really

know the truth

until he rescues them

and they realize

how generous

and thoughtful

of others

Boo actually is.

I want you to think

about that guy

whichever one you know

and like.

And now think about

how you think about

God.

Is he a bit of a

distant

unknown

unpredictable

character

to you?

A monster

you worry

may be out

to get you

actually

if you're honest?

Is he a miserly

old man

only

doling out

blessings

on rare occasions

when he's forced to

by exceptional behavior?

And ask yourself

honestly

what difference

would it make

in your life

if you

if you

met him

and experienced

him

to be deeply

kind

and magnanimously

generous?

A father

you could trust

and love

beyond anyone else

you've ever known?

See I'm often

like the

handkerchief

servant.

I am

risk averse.

I'm a

play it

safe

kind of guy.

It seems

like the right

thing.

Putting the

mina in the

handkerchief

makes total

sense to me

because at least

nothing bad

can happen.

For me

it's actually

a form of

self-protection.

I'm like the

servant.

I don't want

anything painful

or embarrassing

to happen

to me.

I'm afraid

of being

a failure

of disappointing

myself

or someone

else

or God.

God, I

don't like

that feeling

disappointing

someone.

I try to

protect myself

from it.

When I do

that, what

kingdom am I

actually serving?

Mine, right?

I'm protecting

me.

Do you see

that?

Do you see

how that could

be true in my

heart?

I do it in a

lot of different

ways by avoiding

hard spiritual

conversations

with my wife

or with a

neighbor.

Just keep

things peaceful

and comfortable

and not risk

a hard night

or an awkward

relationship.

I do it by

never giving

away enough

money that I

would feel

insecure or

like I really

needed something.

I do it by

praying only for

things that seem

reasonable, they

might actually

happen so I

won't be let

down if they

don't.

I do these

things in

others not

usually for me

because I think

God will smite

me if I mess

up, although

some of you

struggle more

with that

particular fear,

but because I

often imagine

God as miserly.

He's only

doling out His

grace on rare

occasions.

And so most

of the time I'm

on my own and

just get what I

can for myself,

right?

Get what I can

of people's

praise or

financial stability,

of personal

comfort, whatever

it happens to

be.

I don't know

Him deeply

enough.

I think I

gotta look out

for myself.

When I fail to

embrace God as a

generous Father who

delights to give

good gifts to His

children, as He

says He is, as He's

shown Himself to

be, I take my

mina and whatever

else I can gather

for myself and I

wrap it in the

handkerchief.

life, it's safe

there.

There's a huge

difference, isn't

there, between

being passionately

kingdom oriented

and fearfully

self-protective.

It's a difference

that centers around

truly knowing and

trusting my kind

Father.

We say He's like

that, but do we

live like it's

really true?

Have we really

met Him personally

in a transformative

way?

Will you think

about that with me

for a couple

minutes?

The difference

between being

passionately

kingdom oriented

and fearfully

self-protective.

Maybe we should

talk about it in

the connect

communities and

small groups.

Maybe that's where

we really need to

wrestle with it,

but how do you

often live?

Investing all for

King Jesus?

or looking out

for yourself and

hedging your bets

on God?

Minas represent

more than money,

but why don't we

start there?

We just saw from

Zacchaeus in the

previous story a

proof of relationship

with the King is

generosity, right?

Do you love to see

your money used as a

kingdom resource?

To blow holes in

the gates of hell

with your finances?

Or do you hesitate

because you don't

want to stretch too

far?

It might hurt.

You might regret it.

We have the privilege

of being a part of a

church where we invest

in the kingdom all

the time.

Impacting the young

people of this

community, the poor

and the hurting in

this city, the

unreached people

groups in India and

many other places.

So let me ask it

this way.

When you see a

late year budget

deficit at your

church, what goes

through your mind?

Do you think

that's someone

else's problem?

Do you think,

I suppose I have a

little extra to

share?

Or do you think,

what a great

opportunity for me

to experience my

generous father in

deeper ways as he

cares for me and my

family.

family, I'll know

him.

And Jesus says he's

worth it to risk

that.

God says in Malachi

3, we can give

generously and

actually as we do,

get to know him

more.

He actually tells us,

test him.

See him open the

windows of heaven and

pour down so much

we'll be overwhelmed.

That's what he's like,

isn't it?

Let me give you a

little bit to be

faithful with and

then watch me

overwhelm you with my

generosity.

Have you experienced

him like that or

just heard about it?

Anyone else ready to

get to know your

king in that way?

See, it's not about

meeting the budget,

it's about meeting

him, isn't it?

How else could we be

passionately kingdom

oriented with what

God has entrusted to

us?

We've talked about

our time.

What's one thing you'd

stop doing on a

regular basis to be

more kingdom oriented

and reinvest that

time for the king?

How about the good

news of Jesus that

he's given to us?

Who are you just

keeping the peace

with, avoiding that

perhaps hard

conversation that

could be risky, but

could be eternally a

fruitful one,

especially if your

heavenly father is as

good and gracious as

he says he is?

How about your

prayers?

Do you pray like

you're talking to the

king standing at the

windows of heaven,

ready to pour down the

blessings of his

kingdom?

What's one big thing

you would pray for if

you really believed God

was a generous father

delighting to open the

windows of heaven and

advance his kingdom in

your life?

We sometimes forget,

don't we, who he is?

We sometimes forget

we're awaiting the

return of the true

king.

When we're not all in

with Jesus, maybe some

for Jesus or occasionally

when convenient for

Jesus, but I also need

to get what I can for

myself and protect what

I have because I don't

know how life's going to

go and whether Jesus

will really come through.

Jesus is saying, if you

think about me like that,

you don't know my heart.

You may not be outwardly

protesting my kingship,

but your life is

evidencing you don't

deeply know the king.

Listen, his invitation

here is for you to know

him not merely theoretically

or what you've heard

someone else say he's

like from a distance,

but personally, up close,

experientially, like the

faithful servants who

experience his generosity

and grace firsthand.

This table, as clearly as

anything else, reminds us

what he's like, doesn't it?

So overwhelmingly generous

and gracious.

That's what he's like.

Do you feel sometimes that

God might smite you in your

sin?

If you do, your instincts

are good.

He's holy.

He's just.

He punishes sin.

And if you don't have

Jesus, if you don't trust

Jesus to pay the penalty

for your sin, don't come to

this table and pretend to be

in relationship with God

on your own merits, he

warns against that and

says someone's got to pay

for that sin.

But if you do trust Jesus

to be your king, if you

trust him to pay for your

sin, then how does God

respond to your sin?

He does smite your sin.

on the cross.

Fully.

And finally.

Forever.

And so that he can be

magnanimously generous to you,

his child.

That's what he does.

Because he loves you.

And he wants you to know that.

And so he comes this morning

and sets this table and shows

you himself again so that you

can look on this gift.

His generous gift to you

so that you would see it

and run into his arms

again this morning.

And know him to be kind

and loving and generous

for you.

Jesus,

the night he was betrayed,

wanted his followers to know

that.

He took the bread and he broke it.

He gave it to them as I'm

ministering in his name,

give this bread to you.

And he said,

take and eat.

This is my body.

I give it for you.

So do this in remembrance of me.

And he took the cup

and said,

this cup is the new covenant

in my blood

which I'm going to shed

for the forgiveness

of your sins

so yours won't have to be.

Take it and drink it.

Whenever you eat this bread

and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death

as your only hope

until he comes.

Let's pray

and we'll celebrate together.

Jesus,

what an amazing gift.

Would you use it this morning

to help us know

the giver of it

in a new and deeper way?

Would we taste it

and know that you're good?

Would we know you delight

to give us good gifts?

Would we experience your love

and would it warm our hearts

to live for your kingdom?

In Jesus' name,

amen.

For more information,

visit us online

at southwood.org.

and in Jesus

Conciried.org

All right.

Thank you.