Praise the Lord Jesus! Welcome back to this series exploring the different rewards God has promised and the criteria He will use to give them. We’ve already looked at several key principles in the past parts, and today we continue with Part Five.<\/p>\n
God has promised to give great authority to those who serve Him faithfully while here on earth.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at a parable Jesus shared to understand this better:<\/p>\n
Luke 19:12\u201326 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n12 \u201cHe said: \u2018A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
\n13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. \u201cPut this money to work,\u201d he said, \u201cuntil I come back.\u201d
\n14 \u201cBut his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, \u2018We don\u2019t want this man to be our king.\u2019
\n15 \u201cHe was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
\n16 \u201cThe first one came and said, \u2018Sir, your mina has earned ten more.\u2019
\n17 \u201c\u2018Well done, my good servant!\u2019 his master replied. \u2018Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.\u2019
\n18 \u201cThe second came and said, \u2018Sir, your mina has earned five more.\u2019
\n19 \u201cHis master answered, \u2018You take charge of five cities.\u2019
\n20 \u201cThen another servant came and said, \u2018Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.
\n21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.\u2019
\n22 \u201cHis master replied, \u2018I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?
\n23 Why then didn\u2019t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?\u2019
\n24 \u201cThen he said to those standing by, \u2018Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.\u2019
\n25 \u201c\u2018Sir,\u2019 they said, \u2018he already has ten!\u2019
\n26 \u201c\u2018I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis parable speaks clearly for itself. When the Lord gives you a measure of grace or responsibility here on earth, He expects you to use it and multiply it faithfully.<\/p>\n
For example, if He\u2019s given you the grace to clean the church compound, He expects you to go above and beyond making sure the toilets are clean, the windows are spotless, and the chairs are always in order.<\/p>\n
Why? Because when He returns, He\u2019ll evaluate what He entrusted you with and how well you managed it. If you viewed your task as unimportant and neglected it, He may ask, \u201cIf sweeping felt too beneath you, couldn’t you have hired someone to do it, rather than leave My house untidy and overgrown?\u201d<\/p>\n
Just like He said to the servant who hid the money, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you at least put it in the bank so I could get interest when I returned?\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how He will evaluate each of us.<\/p>\n
But if we’re faithful with what He\u2019s given us\u2014even if it seems small\u2014and we put in the effort to do even more, then know this: your faithfulness today will determine your authority in God\u2019s Kingdom tomorrow<\/strong>. If God rewards with cities, your rulership over those cities will match the level of your faithfulness now.<\/p>\n
This should encourage us to serve the Lord wholeheartedly without making excuses, without looking down on any task, and striving to go above and beyond wherever we can. It’s those \u201clittle things\u201d that will ultimately measure the riches of our reward.<\/p>\n
May the Lord bless you as you serve Him faithfully.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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