The Parable of the Pounds: Faithfulness and Productivity | Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven (Pt. 13)

Title: The Parable of the Pounds: Faithfulness and Productivity

Series: Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven

Host: Jason Gohl

Description: Welcome back to "Walking in His Word," where we take concise yet impactful journeys through the scriptures. In this episode, we explore the parable of the Pounds from Luke 19:11-28. This parable, shared by Jesus as He neared Jerusalem, addresses the misconceptions about the immediate establishment of God's kingdom and emphasizes the need for faithful service during His absence.

Through the story of a nobleman who entrusts his servants with pounds (a form of currency) before leaving to receive a kingdom, we uncover profound lessons on productivity, accountability, and the eternal significance of our earthly actions.

Key Takeaways:

• The nobleman represents Jesus, who has ascended to heaven and will return to establish His kingdom.
• Servants are entrusted with resources and expected to use them productively until the nobleman's return.
• Faithful and productive service leads to greater responsibilities and rewards in God's kingdom.
• Our actions and stewardship on earth have eternal consequences.
• The importance of building godly character and engaging in meaningful works that align with God's purposes.
• The need to be prepared and live with a sense of urgency, as Jesus will return at an unknown hour.

Scriptures Referenced:

• Luke 19:11-28
• Psalm 110:1-11

Reflection and Application:

• Embrace faithful service and productivity in advancing God's kingdom.
• Reflect on how you are using the resources and opportunities God has given you.
• Assess your time management and its alignment with God's purposes.
• Understand that while salvation is by grace, rewards in eternity are based on our faithful service.

Next Episode Preview: Join us in the next episode as we delve into the Parable of the Talents, exploring the different abilities God gives us and how we can use them for His glory.

Connect with Us: Thank you for joining us on this enlightening journey through the parables of Jesus. If these teachings have inspired and stirred your heart, be sure to subscribe to our podcast. Share this journey with friends, family, and neighbors to build a community that walks together in His Word. Reach out to us through our website or connect with us on social media @WalkingInHisWordPodcast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Keep walking in His Word, and may His light shine upon your path. Until next time, may your journey be blessed.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Greetings, friends.

(00:01):
Welcome to Walking in His Word,
the podcast where we embarked on a short,
faith filled journey
through the scriptures
and episodes that are both concise.
And impactful.
Each week,
we take an 8 to 10 minute,
purposeful stroll
through the pages of God's Word,
offering insights, wisdom,
and inspiration to enhance our day.
So join us as we explore each topic,

(00:21):
uncovering the treasures
hidden within the scriptures and learning
how they can be applied to our lives.
So let's take this brief
but powerful journey of walking
in His Word together.
In this episode,
we're going to look
at another parable of Jesus
and look at the subject of productivity
from the parable of the pounds
found in Luke 19, verses 11 through 28.
As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem

(00:43):
for the last time, he began to sense
that many of the disciples
had begun
to believe
that the kingdom of heaven
was going to come to earth immediately.
So in response to that, Jesus
spoke this parable to them.
And as it says in verse 11,
and as they heard these things,
he added and spoke a parable,
because he was nigh to Jerusalem,
and because they thought
the kingdom of God
should immediately appear.

(01:05):
Jesus
needed to
explain that
the kingdom of heaven
would not be immediate,
as many had thought,
and that there would be a need
for faithful service in his absence.
So I want to look at this parable.
So let's read it together.
In verse 12 he states his objective.
He said, therefore a certain nobleman
went into a fair country
to receive for himself
a kingdom, and to return.

(01:25):
And he called his ten servants,
and delivered to them
10 pounds, and said unto them, occupy
until I come.
So clearly you can see
Jesus was using the existing circumstance
to use a parable to explain to them,
look at the kingdom
is not coming right away,
but I'm giving you something
that you must be productive with
until I return.

(01:47):
Here we have this nobleman in the parable
who is going away
to receive for himself
a kingdom and to return.
And he calls to him
his each of his servants,
and gives them
what the Greek calls as a minor,
which is about three months wages,
and gives them instructions
to do business until he returns.
Unfortunately, there are citizens
who send a delegation

(02:08):
to express their displeasure
with having this nobleman
reign over them.
Having received the kingdom,
the nobleman returns
and he calls for his servants
and asks them
to account for what they've done
with what he gave them.
The parable states
that one servant earned ten minus
in addition to what he had,
and was rewarded
with authority over ten cities.

(02:28):
Another earned five minus their powers
and was granted authority
over five cities.
Another simply returned to the original,
which angered the nobleman,
who then gave the one minor to him
who earned ten.
Finally, the enemies
who did not want
the nobleman to reign over them
are are disposed of,
so the heavenly principle
that we are going to glean from this

(02:50):
parable is very clear from verse 11.
Jesus was speaking this
as a way to counter
the thinking that the kingdom of heaven
would come immediately.
There were many
who thought this way, and there were.
There have been many who thought this way
throughout the years.
I think it's safe to infer
from the context of these verses
that Jesus
is the nobleman in this parable,
and at this point in time,

(03:11):
he was preparing to go to Jerusalem
for the final time
and give his life on the cross.
This parable explains
how the kingdom of God
would not appear immediately,
and when Jesus ascended into heaven,
he was going away to receive his kingdom
and sit down
at the right hand of the father.
This parable also portrays
the rejection of the Lord's reign.
There are many people who did not wish
to submit to the authority of the Lord,

(03:33):
and it was prophesied
that the Messiah's rule
would be in the midst of your enemies.
That's Psalm 110, verses one through 11.
The Lord said to my Lord,
sit down at my right hand
until I make mine.
Thine enemy is thy footstool.
The Lord shall send
the rod of thy strength out of Zion,
and rule
thou in the midst of thy enemies.
This parable also reveals
the role of the disciple

(03:54):
between the Lord's departure
and his return.
It's clear from this parable
that the disciple is to be productive,
easiest to them.
Do business until I come.
A disciple is also to be faithful
while awaiting the return of the King.
We also see in this parable
that there is a time of reckoning
when the Lord will ask what we've done
with what he's given us.
We have seen this theme
throughout the series
on the parables in other episodes

(04:15):
we've had here on this podcast.
God expects fruit from his people.
The Lord highly commended
the servants who brought an increase
to what they were given.
The man who gained 10 pounds
was given rule over ten cities.
The man who gained five
was given rule over five cities.
But the man who did nothing
with what he was given lost
even the original found
that he was given.
From this weekend

(04:36):
we can see that
our position, our authority,
our responsibility and eternity
are directly depended upon
what we do with
what God has given us here on this earth.
One of my spiritual mentors
always told me
that there are only two things
we can take with us into eternity
our character that Christ
has worked with us
and our works that we have accomplished
while we are here on this earth.
We cannot earn our salvation
through works,
but we are definitely rewarded

(04:57):
in eternity based upon those works.
This can be our ministries
and our churches,
but also our treatment and impact
on others in the church, family,
and surrounding communities.
And finally,
this parable alludes
to the punishment of waiting
for those who do not submit to the king.
As mentioned before,
some do not wish to have Christ as king,
and when he returns,
he will want to render judgment

(05:17):
upon them.
So what are some takeaways
that we can have here?
First of all, embrace service.
Embrace faithful service.
We should understand that
the Kingdom of God
may not appear immediately.
And while we are waiting,
we have a role to play
in the expansion and advancement
of God's kingdom here on earth.
See yourselves
as one of these trusted servants.

(05:37):
What are we doing with God?
What God has given us.
We should be diligently seeking
to serve others
and diligently seeking to advance
God's kingdom.
Also, we must remember the importance
of productivity
and accountability in the Christian life.
Reflect on how you are using
the resources and opportunities
that God has given you,
and consider

(05:58):
whether you are actively advancing
God's kingdom on earth,
or just merely maintaining
the status quo,
because everything we do
has an eternal impact.
Everything we do
has eternal consequences.
Here in this parable
reminds us of that very clearly.
We should prioritize building
godly character and engage
in doing meaningful works
that align with God's purposes.
And while the salvation is,

(06:19):
of course
by grace, rewards in eternity
are based on faithful service,
we should always also be preparing
for the Lord's return.
Be ready for him to return.
Just as this nobleman
returned unexpectedly.
Jesus will also returned
at an unknown hour,
and we must live with a sense of urgency,
of being faithful and diligent
in our service to God.

(06:39):
So we should take practical steps
to apply this parable
teaching to our daily lives.
Look at what gifts God has given you,
what talents or pounds God has given you,
and analyze
and assess
whether you are being productive
and advancing God's kingdom.
In this parable,
each man was given an equal portion,

(06:59):
which implies
that we are all given equal opportunity
to live our lives serving the Lord
and whatever manner he calls us
to.
To me, this best speaks of our time.
We all have been given 24 hours
a day to serve the Lord,
and we are responsible
for what we do with that time
for the furtherance
of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the next episode,
we're going to talk
about the parable of talents,

(07:20):
and then we'll talk about the abilities
that God gives us because they're there.
Each man in that parable
is giving us something different,
and we'll talk about the abilities
that God gives us.
But today, I'd like to close by asking
most of all,
what are we doing with our time?
The Lord gives us all opportunities
with the time that we are given,
and he expects us to provide an increase

(07:41):
with what he has given us.
So I trust this
parable has encouraged you
to take an inventory
of how you spend your time,
and how you bring and increase
the opportunities that God has given us.
May God bless you.
Thank you so much for joining us
on this enlightening journey
through the parables
of Jesus and the Walking
in His Word podcast.
We hope you found inspiration, wisdom,

(08:02):
and a deeper connection
to the teachings of our Savior.
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(08:22):
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Keep walking in His Word

(08:42):
and may his light shine upon your path
until our next parables.
May your journey be blessed.