Today’s Reading: Luke 19:1-27

I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given, but from those who have nothing,
even what they have will be taken away.
Luke 19:26

This is a tough passage. The Parable of the Ten Pounds, or in other gospels the Parable of the Unfaithful Steward or similar titles, always strikes us as problematic. In this parable, the master entrusts his wealth to three servants. One servant takes the wealth entrusted and generates ten times the wealth. Another takes the wealth and gains a five-fold return. These two are rewarded greatly by the master who approves of their actions upon his return. 

Not so for the third servant. He hides the pound away, afraid to lose it, afraid to make use of it, afraid to displease the master if he somehow returned less than the wealth entrusted to him. The master is forceful and even brutal in his rebuke of the servant for failing him. 

It doesn’t sound much like Jesus, does it? Then we get the focus verse quoted above, which also doesn’t sound much like Jesus? What do we do with this passage? 

Help in interpretation comes from considering what comes before and after this passage. Luke constructed his gospel purposefully, placing parables and stories in a particular order to enliven his message. 

Prior to this moment, Luke tells the famous story of Zacchaeus. In it, Zacchaeus accumulates massive amounts of wealth through unfair taxation and probably some grafting or other illicit behavior. Upon conviction after meeting Jesus, he promises to put his wealth to proper use, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” (Luke 19:8b)

Then, after this parable, we get Luke’s account of what we celebrate on Palm Sunday: the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus takes what has been entrusted to him: his ministry, his witness, his very life, and marches boldly into the future. 

In all three cases, the main character takes what God has entrusted to him and makes righteous use of it. Zacchaeus uses his wealth to redeem his behavior. Jesus uses his power and influence to set the stage for the crucifixion. And two of the three servants take the wealth entrusted to them and make good use of it. 

In the negative example of the third servant, we see God angry when we fail to make righteous and good use of what God has entrusted to us. God has given us gifts, abilities, ways of being in the world, to help others and make the world better. God expects that we will use these gifts, knowing that God will multiply their effect, just as we see with the first two servants. 

Think
What has God entrusted to you? How are you making use of it? 

Pray
Ask God to show you how to make full use of what God has entrusted to you.

Do
Make use of what God has entrusted to you today.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.