"Our Role in the Coming of the Kingdom"(Luke 19:11-27)

Our Role in the Coming of the Kingdom 

Luke 19:11-27 

We know that John the Baptist was the first to preach about Christ, and he told the people to repent because the Kingdom of God was near. What does it mean that the Kingdom was near when Jesus was preaching? 

In the Bible the Kingdom refers to the concept of God reigning over the people. God would rule over the people. Jesus’ presence declared that the reign of God had begun and the Kingdom is progressing to its completion. 

When Jesus called on the people, He told them that if they believe in Him it would be the will of God to give them possessors of the Kingdom.  

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 

Luke 12:32 ESV 

As with all kingdoms, there is a king. Subjects of the kingdom are expected to be loyal to their ruler. Are we loyal or rebellious to our king? Our confession as a believer means we need to act as possessors of the Kingdom of God. We have tasks to perform right now. We have to come to possess the power of God and we have to live like servants of Christ. We have to ask ourselves, “Is Jesus really my king?”

In the parable from Luke 19, Jesus narrates a parable in which a nobleman had to travel far a way to receive his kingdom and then come back to rule. Before he goes, he calls ten servants to do business while he is gone. The servants are given ten minas to invest and do business.  

Jesus goes on to say a delegation was sent to stop the nobleman from receiving the kingdom; however, the nobleman succeeds despite the malcontents protests.

Later the nobleman returns as the ruler and one by one the servants come to declare what they had done. Two servants are commended positively. One servant says he did nothing with his investment. Jesus doesn’t tell us about the other seven servants, but we can speculate that the other seven had done nothing with the resources given to them. 

From this parable, we understand that all those who have been called into the kingdom have been given gifts to advance the kingdom. This means we will be required to present what we have done with the gifts entrusted with us when Jesus returns. We are expected to expand the Kingdom of God. 

What does Jesus expect? 

1. 

They have to know that the calling has been given to everyone and they must carry on whether the master is around or not. The master has given ten minas. At that time, one mina equals one hundred days' wages. This sounds good, but for a nobleman it would not be very generous. The ruler intentionally gave a little and was pleased that the servants who could do much with little.  

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.' 

Luke 19:17 ESV 

It may appear that we have been given little, and this could turn others away. Right now the Kingdom may look insignificant, but in the future it will be powerful, and your benefit will be great. We have a responsibility to act now. Only ten servants came to receive the minas. The other servants did not even come. Only a few of the ten servants who came did anything with their talents as the lord had told them. Invest the minas into business. The accountability would be did you put it in business or not instead of whether or not it made a profit. 

2. 

The Kingdom operates on the instructions given. The third man gives his version and tries to avoid the investment instructions. God requires obedience from us. How much do we follow God's commands? It is important how we strive to be obedient to God since the results do not determine our success. Sometimes it seems that our results are failures, but to God, in His Kingdom, they are successful when we are obedient. 

3. 

Our rewards are based on our actions. If we put into practice what we have been given for the Kingdom, we will please God. None of us have been brought into the kingdom with nothing. We must intentionally use these gifts for God. 

4. 

Rewards and punishments are given on knowledge of the Kingdom. The Lord will not condemn those who do not know about the kingdom. We have been told what to do. We know what we have been given and who it is from. We know what it is to used for.

'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. 

Luke 19:26 ESV 

As we wait for Jesus’ return, let everyone of us daily invest wisely and diligently into His Kingdom.