Lessons From The Parable Of The Ten Minas

Since it involves the distributions together with work of money — called “minas” — the Parable of the Ten Minas (or Ten Talents) is ofttimes interpreted from a financial angle. I really don’t mean it’s really sound-nigh money, though it does comprise some obvious lessons goodness-nigh the resources we are given.

Let’s initiatory of all past taking a await at the parable.

Luke xix:12-26 (NIV)

He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to slice of piece of work,’ he said, ‘until I come upwardly dorsum.’

“But his subjects hated him likewise sent a delegation afterward him to say, ‘We don’t want this homo to alive on our Rex.’

“He was made Rex, notwithstanding, together with returned position. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the coin, inwards lodge to let out out what they had gained alongside it.

“The offset 1 came inward addition to said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned 10 to a greater extent.’

“‘Well done, my proficient retainer!’ his principal replied. ‘Because you lot remove hold been trustworthy in a really handbag-size thing, bring bill of 10 cities.’

“The s came also said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned v to a greater extent than.’

“His principal answered, ‘You take away hold neb of 5 cities.’

“Then some other retainer came inwards add-on to said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I remove proceed kept it laid away inward a patch of textile. I was afraid of y'all, because you lot are a difficult adult manful. You select out what you lot did non position inward too reap what you lot did non sow.’

“His principal replied, ‘I will judge yous past your have words, you lot wicked retainer! You knew, did yous, that I am a hard adult man, taking out what I did non pose inwards, as good as reaping what I did non sow? Why then didn’t y'all lay my money on deposit, thus that when I came dorsum, I could maintain collected it amongst interest?’

“Then he said to those standing yesteryear, ‘Take his mina away from him in addition to give it to the i who has 10 minas.’

“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has x!’

“He replied, ‘I tell yous that to everyone who has, more than testament hold out given, but every bit for the ane who has cipher, even what they receive got testament live taken away.

Is the Parable some Money?

Though Jesus uses money in the parable, it’s unlikely that He was talking about it specifically, particularly in regard to growing it. We have to remember that Jesus came into the world not for money, but for people. The money reference hence was most sure as shooting entirely symbolic.

Consider also, that if Jesus had any money at all the Bible doesn’t tell us equally much. As well, we receive got no examples inward which Jesus sends his disciples out amongst money that needs to remove hold out grown inwards social gild to honour Him. Clearly, He was using this parable to depict something other than money, even though coin is used to tell the story. Pure speculation on my role hither, but peradventure Jesus was using money because He knew that it would assist His listeners to empathize what He was trying to tell them.

H5N1 usual non-monetary interpretation of the parallel — in addition to the ane I believe to be correct — is that Jesus was describing how the Kingdom of God would time menses, inward add-on to what our responsibilities would live inward helping it do so.

Very briefly, the manlike monarch inwards the parable is Jesus Himself (“…went to a distant province to have got himself appointed manlike person monarch together with hence to render”). The ii servants who grew their minas to 5 together with x, were those followers who embraced the mission in addition to multiplied what they had been given. They would each live given cities to principle over (slap-upwardly inwards the Kingdom).

The retainer who hid the money inward fearfulness was given the same resources, but did naught with them because He didn’t really believe (or 50-l disagreed). Finally we have those who didn’t desire Him to be manful monarch — the citizens of the province he visited. They would be killed (the Judgment) for their lack of belief in him.

Using the Time in addition to Talents You’ve Been Given

The minas inward the parable, I believe, are representative of resources God gives us to brand the while of piece of work of the Kingdom on Earth. First, at that topographic signal are spiritual resources. It starts amongst the gift of salvation; ane fourth dimension we withdraw hold it we’re to tell others of it (sharing). Then at that topographic squall for’s revelation. Each of us receive got varying degrees of spiritual revelation. We tin think of it every bit spiritual agreement where God opens our eyes to various teachings, together with it’s a way of reaching out to others on a different apartment.

We’re also given resources in the form spiritual gifts. In Romans 12:6-8, the Apostle Paul lists some of these as prophesying, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading together with showing mercy.

We also have skills that can be used to spread the Gospel. We’re all spread across the employment and business arrangement spectrum and that gives us a chance to witness to those who don’t believe. God can use us where ever we are. In addition, by being good at the occupational work we do, we display integrity to those around us. And sometimes, we can even use our work skills to help others. Think about an accountant who helps another believer (or non-believer) with his taxation returns, or a repairman who helps amongst repair while of piece of work at church. Each of us tin give the axe witness wherever we are as good inwards different ways through our skills.

Finally, there’s time. We don’t always think of it as a resource, but it is. We can use what time we have to volunteer at church building building, to aid our neighbors, together with to witness to others.

Each of these are resources that have got got cipher to create amongst money. I think this is what the minas symbolize inwards the parable.

There Might endure a Money Connection . . .

Does money jibe into this parable at all? Even though it’s non every fighting of import every scrap nosotros may translate it to terminal at outset glance, I intend it’s inwards at that topographic dot also.

Like all the items listed above, money is also a resource. It can be used to further the Kingdom. Money can be used to do this by using it to dorsum upward the church building edifice, to assist the pain besides past times supporting outreach ministries. And if it frees upwards the holders quaternary dimension, it force out let him or her to create mission spell of work or to participate in outreach efforts closer to dwelling household.

There’s also the matter of stewardship. Like all resources, money is to endure grown in add-on to preserved (every flake opposed to hoarded). Properly managed, coin terminate live used every flake a resources inward the advancing of the Kingdom. By having money, y'all tin flame live inwards a spot to assist others as well as furnish the financing to spread the Gospel.

Money isn’t the mina, but it is a element.

Whatever the mina is, whether it’s revelation, spiritual gifts, talents, time — or money — our greatest finish should be to use it to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. And when our lives are over we’ll hear, “Well done, proficient besides faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

What produce yous believe this parable is goodness-nigh? Leave your thoughts inward the comments below!