Daily Devotional for Wednesday, April 22

The Accounting from the Servants

“Unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him,” Luke 19:26.

Recently, I bought a Wal-Mart gift card specifically for my boys to make purchases for me while they are out. I text them photos of items I need (with the expected cost). When they return, there is an accounting. The receipt tells me what was bought and how much is left on my card. It is a great system!

In Luke 19, a nobleman went off to receive a kingdom, but he left money in the care of his servants for investing. He gave ten minas (“pounds”) to ten servants. Assuming each servant received one mina, each received about three months’ wages. In today’s labor economy, that would be roughly $5,500. He told them to be occupied or do business until he returned.

That is a large responsibility! I cannot imagine putting $5,500 on gift cards and handing them out.

The new king returned and called the servants to him to hear about their business endeavors. What had they gained by trading?

In youth ministry, we played Bigger and Better with our teens. Three teams each started with a penny. The goal of the two-hour game was to come back with the biggest and best item, but they could only trade. They went house to house and asked for something bigger and better than their current item. Amazingly, they returned with a new 10-speed bike, a TV and a $100 gift card! They understood the assignment.

The first servant decupled his mina! His trading gained tenfold. The second servant quintupled his mina and brought in fivefold. They understood the assignment. As a new ruler, the king gave ten cities to the first servant and five cities to the second. The last servant did nothing. Not only was he reprimanded harshly, even what he had was taken and given to the first servant.

THOUGHT

We are to be faithful with what the Lord gives us. There will be an accounting.

Kelli Reynolds