The Already … But Not Yet
We are at the end of Jesus’ travel section that began in Luke 9:51. What did we read there?
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51, ESV)
Jesus knew his days were short; he knew his mission. So, he sets his face toward Jerusalem and the Cross. The endgame. Then, for ten chapters he walks, he travels, he teaches about the kingdom and what is to come. And as they are walking, his disciples started to believe that maybe, just maybe this was the Messiah. Maybe he is going to Jerusalem to reclaim David’s Royal, political throne. Last week, they passed through Jericho and met a man named Zacchaeus. At the end of that story, Jesus proclaimed that “Salvation had come to his house …” Surely, this would have put thoughts of Messiah in the Jewish minds. They thought … if Jesus gets on the throne, sanity will be restored! They missed the point of Jesus’ upside down kingdom.
Now … the journey is over. He is at Jerusalem’s door. And we read this in Luke 19:11,
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. (Luke 19:11, ESV)
Luke tells us up front: because Jesus was at Jerusalem’s door—all his followers thought he was going to retake the political throne. As Darrell Bock notes, “Jesus wishes to correct the view that because he was near Jerusalem the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” This is the context for our parable.
Jesus has been talking for a while about this future, upside down Kingdom his is going to bring. But his followers are saying, they are shouting, things are bad now! We need you now!
And I wonder if that is any different than many Christians today. Many might say, “the signs are clear … Jesus is coming back … soon!” To be clear, we do not told the day or the hour. Jesus simply tells us to be expectant because it could happen at any time … we need to be ready. Jesus’ return may be just around the corner …
But what if it’s not? Jesus is coming. Church, Jesus is COMING! But what if the King is still a long way off from our perspective? In that case, Luke has shown the kingdom is ALREADY here in part … one day it will fully come in the New Heavens and New Earth. This is what theologians call, the “Already … but Not Yet” aspect of the Kingdom. At Jesus first coming, the Kingdom was partially ushered in … at his second coming, it will fully come. The kingdom is already … but not yet. The question, the tension for so many of us is this: While waiting for the return of the King … How Now Shall We Live? In the midst of uncertain times, how shall we live? In the midst of unrest and tension, how shall we live? In the midst of suffering and struggle, how shall we live?
Take An Inventory
Let me sum up Luke 19:2-24 of this opening section. First, a nobleman leaves town and goes to the Emperor to secure his right to rule as king. Second, while he is gone, he invests money in his servants to build his kingdom. Finally, there is a larger group of citizens resisting his rule in their lives. Does this sound familiar? I think Jesus knows what he is doing. In telling this parable, he is alluding to a familiar historical reality and then applying the spiritual reality to himself, his followers and society.
I think this is meant to speak directly to Jesus committed followers. Do you believe everything you have is a gift from God? Every day of life … is a gift. The parable asks us to consider is this: How are you using your assets for Jesus? Do you know what they are? Take an inventory. Commentator Mike McKinley offers the wider scope to get us thinking:
The lesson of the parable seems to be: if you are a follower of Christ, every aspect of your life is a gift given to you for the purpose of investment. The place where you live, the job where you work, your weekends, the abilities and education that you have received, your money, your health, your family, your interactions with people who do not believe in Jesus, your suffering—all of it is given to you as a stewardship.
I find that really helpful … and really convicting. How are we doing, church? Too often, when we think about assets, we think about money and property. But our Kingdom assets are much broader.
Make An Investment
Here is the key: don’t stop investing even when the spiritual market is volatile. In fact, the returns on the investments you make in people and relationships and blessing others, those might reap wonderful returns in the future. When someone is going through a hard time, what if your investment in that relationship showed the power of God’s Kingdom and the Gospel? Because, one day, the king will return.
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. (Luke 19:15, ESV)
One day the king will return, and there will be an accounting. What did you do with the assets I gave you? Again, while this is a parable, I believe Jesus is using it as an eschatological teaching. It serves as both a challenge and a warning for us all.
Here is what we’ll see: When you give and serve generously the investment will be amazing.
The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 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.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ (Luke 19:16-19, ESV)
Woah! Some of you might be saying … how can get returns like this?! The first guy got a return of 11%! Even Warren Buffet can’t do that sometimes. The second person didn’t do bad either. We have the S & P 500 and a good bond fund right here. Both produced healthy returns. Now, you are starting to see the complexity of this parable. Now we don’t just have servants, now we have GOOD SERVANTS. But what do we see with the third servant?
Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ (Luke 19:20-21, ESV)
This is interesting. Very interesting. A hard contrast. Literally it says, “And the other one came.” Then there was this guy … who did nothing with the investment. Now, we are not told exactly why. Was he lazy? Was there no jobs? All we are told is he was afraid of the nobleman. Of the coming King. Why? He is severe and he takes the money from the people who worked hard to earn it.
What do you do with that? Why is this character here? He is here to show us what it is like to miss the point. This servant didn’t do anything to build the kingdom … and he blames the king. “It’s your fault I did nothing … because you are selfish … you take what is not yours!” I want you to notice though, that if you’ve been reading along … this “servant” is doing something insidious. He is disparaging the King’s character. And, he misses the point that he owns nothing … the king owns everything. And, he has already been generous with this servant. It’s all an excuse—which is the point and the warning for us. Don’t make excuses … faithfully invest your assets. How does the King react?
He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ (Luke 19:22-24, ESV)
He calls him a “wicked” servant. His own words and actions have condemned him. The presuppositions this man had about the nobleman are wrong—he was generous and he was within his rights to receive his returns.
The return is amazing, but I don’t think the point is to focus on the size of the return. Rather, we should focus on the process. How was it accomplished? Notice the phrase, “Faithful in a very little.” Circle it. Highlight it. Copy it. This is the principal Luke is drawing out. Prove yourself faithful in a few things then you can be entrusted with more. This parable is about “In Between Faithfulness” with our Kingdom Assets. How do we do that?
Increase Your Impact
You keep going. Don’t stop! As we saw with the wicked servant, if you are not productive, there are consequences. You works don’t save you but they are evidence of your faithfulness to Christ. Let’s see the consequences first for the wicked, unfaithful servants.
And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘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 19:24-26, ESV)
Wow. So, the King turns to his audience and delivers more bad news for the wicked servant. He says, take his money away and give it to the one who has been most productive! Now, these verses repeat the principal, if you are faithful with little, more will be given. But he introduces the idea that the initial investment can be taken away. What do we do with that? I think this verse, and then next, point to the Biblical reality of Judgment. At the end of time, both believers and unbelievers will be judged for what they have done in this life. Commentator McKinley clearly explains the problem if we don’t steward our assets well:
You are not free to use those things for your own purposes or to neglect them all together. Too many Christians adopt the third servant’s approach to the things that the Lord has given to them, lazily or foolishly failing to put them to use toward the interests of their master. Instead, we must invest all that we have in the priorities and plans of Jesus (if you need a hint at what those are, look at Luke 19:10). We all must live like servants who will give an account when the king returns.
The principal is this; all of us have kingdom assets. Are we using them for ourselves or does our faith in Jesus make a difference?
Your Kingdom Asset Portfolio
Let me offer TWO categories and share an example.
First … GIVE. Maybe today, as we took an inventory of our kingdom assets, some of us thought: how can my generosity increase? And when you thinking about giving I would suggest we consider our entire KINGDOM ASSET Portfolio. (1) Think about your PRODUCTS. These are your spiritual and natural gifts, your relational skills, your health, your personality and educational background. Are you being a good steward? (2) Think about your POSESSIONS. This is your monetary wealth, your home, your car or other property—how can those be leveraged to bless others? (3) Think about your POSITION. This is your spheres of influence and experiences. How can you use all of those for God’s glory?
Second … GO. Maybe the Lord is calling you the mission field. Being a faithful steward is not just about money, but it is about answering the call God places in your life and using everything you have for his glory.
Think one more time about this concept of “In Between Faithfulness.” I don’t know what the rest of the year will hold for our world. It does feel like we like in turbulent times. It is not unlike the first century. What must the first disciples have felt as they approached Jerusalem with Jesus? In that moment, Jesus told them this parable and encouraged them to keep invested in the Kingdom.
Church, don’t be obsessed with running away and hiding. Instead … invest. Be faithful. Have courage. Build his kingdom and make an impact. Charles Colson was fond of saying, in moments like these, what we need is for the “Church to Be The Church.” He was an example of a life that just never stopped investing in the Kingdom. He wanted to make an impact. He started multiple organizations. He wrote many books. As a marine, he had a motto. “Stay At Your Posts.” At his funeral, everyone was given a pin with those same words …
Stay at your posts … and invest in the kingdom now. Be faithful. Be watchful. Be ready … for the return of the King.
Church, let’s be people of “In Between Faithfulness” for the glory of God and the sake of the Gospel.
