He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.Luke 19:12-27
Many people teach that the lesson found in this parable is God expecting us to use our talents and abilities for His kingdom. This was not the purpose of Messiah giving forth this parable. While this summation is not wrong it can be a source of frustrating the grace of YHWH if not based on a understanding of the new birth and the necessity of the experience of the cross.
A time back a certain book was written that suggested a Christian must find and live out their purpose if they would be fulfilled. I was asked to read and give my thoughts to my pasture on if this book would be something worth church wide study. I felt that the teachings of the book where so universalist in nature that they would not fall out to the betterment of the saints.
I am not trying here to answer the ideas put forth by this book. I mention it to say this alone that the general statement that all men have a purpose from God is so generic in nature that it gives space for men to use a truth for their own perverse living. The idea of fate or destiny have been used by rebellious man for his own purposes since the beginning.
To say all men have a purpose or fate or destiny from God gives all men a status of, to some degree, acceptance by God. This thought in no way will lead to repentance or faith in the redemption bought by a necessary death of the cross which our Messiah took on himself. In this death alone do we pass into a life which our Father not only approves of but gives to us.
In the parable of the talents Yeshua gives no indication that all men are the same. He instead divides them into two classes; His servants and his citizens. The kingdom of God includes every created thing, including every man. The kingdom of heaven deals with the reign of Messiah in your heart. These two kingdoms are in reality one. The distinction comes in this; though all live in the land of the kingdom only those who have given reign over themselves to the Fathers sovereignty live in the truth of kingdom. All others are the citizens who have said. "We will not have this man to reign over us."
Both of these groups have a fate; the self ruled are fated to be slain.
The servants fate is to dwell in the richness of the Kings house forever. However these servants face a trial in which the intents of their hearts are revealed.
The talents they where given where in no way generated from themselves. They were a grace from their Lord. The servants where expected to perform the work of their Lord with what they had been given. The wicked servant is judged by his own idle words while those who worked the works of their master are entrusted to a greater work.
The grace of redemption into our Fathers life must be lived out in us. Our Messiah does not light us as a candle to be hidden but instead that we might show forth His light upon all within His house. It is the wicked citizens who seek to use the things of the Kingdom for their own use and the wicked servant who does not use what has been given for the masters work.
The good and faithful servant has nothing of his own or for his own purpose though he is entrusted with all that exists.
