ESOCS Devotional 4 December 2024 – Reward For Being Faithful
MEMORY VERSE: “And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”Luke 19:17 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 19:11-27
Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
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Did you know that God rewards the faithful? Those who have placed faith in Jesus as their Savior will be given the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). There are many rewards the world can give people, but there is no comparison to the gift of eternal life in heaven for those who are faithful to Jesus.
In our text, every one of the ten servants was given the same thing. It was equal and they were to invest that amount for the Lord’s purpose. This parable reminds us that every believer is given God’s Spirit and the message of eternal life. Our job is to seek to bring a good return from that message by our faithful proclamation. We are Christ’s ambassadors . . . we are charged to point the lost to Christ.
There are several things we must see. First, we are reminded that serving the Lord is not easy. There will be opposition. The servants in Luke certainly were not popular with those who hated the King. When we stand with Jesus, we will become a target to some.
Second, we should see from this passage that fear is no excuse for a lack of results in our Christian life. The person who serves faithfully will be rewarded. In the parable in our text, the King rewards His servants proportionately (the one who gained a tenfold return gained 10 cities, and the man who gained a fivefold reward gained five cities).
Third, the best investment we can make with our life is to use what God has given us to bring honour and glory to the Father. This approach will lead us away from many of the dangers of life; it will enable us to share in the blessings of God, and it will lead us to the indescribable joy of hearing the Father’s “Well Done”.
The message is simple: We need to stay focused on serving Him in whatever capacity we’ve been called to do. Remember that we are part of God’s great plan. We simply should seek His Kingdom and seek to stay faithful, fulfilling His call. Be confident that He is watching over you. He will reward and protect you. God rewards the faithful! Apostle Paul encourages us to be faithful and reminds us of its reward (Colossians 3:23–25).
- When faced with opposition, what are the things that can activate you to remain faithful to God’s call?
- Dear Lord, help me to serve You faithfully in the area You have called me. Give me the spirit to endure all challenges and opposition that will be in my path to Your service, for I know that Your reward will always surpass every trial.
Further Reading: Isaiah 14:3–15; 1:10–20; Revelation 14: 13 – end
ESOCS Devotional 4 December 2024
