God has Expectations of His Servants

Scripture: Luke 19:24-27

Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 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. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”

Insights: Today we conclude our points from this weeks sermon and the subject today deals with God’s expectations of His servants.  Notice in today’s verses that the worthless slaves mina was taken away and given to the slave who had ten minas in his possession already.  The point of today’s verses is again quite clear.  If you are a poor servant, then you will lose what you already have.  If you are a good servant, you will gain even more than you presently possess.  Now, after making a statement like this, please do not think me as some kind of “name it and claim, word of faith” kind of preacher.  I do not fully grasp how this concept works in God’s economy.  I am also not saying that our works bring us into good or right standing before God.  Jesus’ work during the Easter event took care of all of this kind of works based theology.  What I am saying, however, is God does reward those who meet His standards of expectation.  Again, I don’t readily understand, nor know, what that actually looks like in eternity, but I hold to this principle by faith.  As a last thought, notice in the final verse what happens to those enemies of the Master.  They are slain before Him.  We know they are literally thrown into the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne Judgment.  In other words, there is an expectation that is going to be met even by those who reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  That expectation is an eternity of suffering in the Lake of Fire away from the love and grace of the Lord.  Beloved, let us live a life of good service for the Lord and meet His positive expectations of His servants.  To His great name be given praise!

Questions:

1.  Is your life characterized by poor service which results in loss?

2.  Is your life characterized by good service which results in gain?

Prayer: Father, I am so easily distracted in this world and make choices that result in me being a poor servant for You.  Forgive my wicked heart and allow me the pleasure of being a good servant filled with Your Spirit which results in a life of gain in You.  Amen.