I'm not going to contradict your commentary on the parable of the talents/minas. But I would like to promote a bit of caution with regards to the God says "making money in business shows me you're a good servant" type of theme. Not to say that's specifically what you're promoting or was your intent however.
The Bible has a ton of great examples about work and labor while alive. My favorite are the references to ants and thinking about how they work - day in and day out. Also, when you combine these thoughts about ants with the wisdom expressed by the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, talking about simply experiencing pleasure from the labor itself - not necessarily the return from that labor - but a valid sense of pride in self accomplishment of something, being productive, you get a bit closer to the intent of the parable, at least in my mind. The fact that there's a difference between 10, 5 & 1 (minas) or 5, 2 & 1 (talents), to me, simply presents that there will be differences in both what is received and what is potentially generated. Jesus even mentions through many examples that there will be differences and even Revelation reveals a hierarchy that many equal seeking Christians would opt to ignore.
The world promotes many things which are defined as "successful", in which one of them is business and risk taking. While investing in the market may seem like you're being a smart "business" person, you're really just realizing a return on the investment of time and effort contributed by human beings, whether it's a single stock or the index of many stocks, any return is a result of the efforts of humans to create value - not something you were directly part of producing. Simply because you make a choice to put your money into the market does not mean you're acting like the ants and being productive.
It's a careful balance to take some scripture like Luke 19 and isolate one parable into an overarching notion of what is good for a wide range of people. I would argue that being productive is what God wants, not necessarily a quantifiable return on investment from a worldly viewpoint. For the struggling Father or Mother in a disadvantaged situation, as Christians, I would argue we don't want to invoke envy of a situation which they may not be able to take advantage of. Not everyone can start or run a business, yet everyone can be productive - whether a business owner or an employee (servant?) of a business owner. When Jesus references the physical body as a metaphor, there are many parts and they all have a role, just as many people have various roles within a society.
As Jesus himself mentioned about his own parables not being understood by his listeners at times, I think this parable and the one about the talents have a wide variety of meanings and will vary at different points in time to different people. Their literal translation, at least as it relates to making money, is tangential in my opinion. Showing God that you're doing the very best you can with what you have, rather than being lazy, seems to be a bit more in line with the what I read as the intended message.
I also find it interesting that the parable uses "business" as the theme because that is what people understand that a business owner or nobleman would want to conduct. Yet, the "business" of Jesus had his disciples leaving their businesses of making money to follow him. Maybe it isn't about exactly making money but about being productive conducting the "business" of helping God to move more souls in His direction and some type of commensurate reward. That seems like the type of currency that God would want. So, while, yes it requires worldly money to run either a business or a ministry, it's not always required to be productive in God's view - at least I hope that's the case.
Hope this doesn't offend and simply provides a different vantage point of the time and effort you put into making your content.
Not offended at all! Thanks for the careful consideration you put into sharing your thoughts!
I agree with most of what you said. The bigger principle here is to be fruitful and multiply. One does not have to be a business owner to be fruitful and multiply. And we’re all given different “amounts” to manage well. That doesn’t mean that the one who is managing more is more important or successful than those who are successfully managing less. It’s more about being aligned with the master’s mission of growth, which is why the other guy is killed.
However, Jesus’ use of business is a very practical and tangible one for many of us. So many of the lessons learned in business are great prep for ruling cities in day. That doesn’t negate or downplay the fruitfulness of being a full-time mom or an employee.
But your comment about business is well taken. I could’ve made the point stronger about the bigger blessing He gave us is to be fruitful and multiply.
The way we’ve compartmentalised our lives is not God’s design. He’s with us always and so he’s able to work in all areas. One of my greatest joys is seeing my work colleagues take a journey of faith. If formal “ministry” is the only time we’re actually working for God then for most people that’s very limited. What about all the other hours of the week ? We’re just doing what’s necessary? Nah.
The irony for me now is I am in FT Ministry with a mixture of leading a local church and the online ministry through content. But I don’t see myself as a special one. My previous role was just as much ministry.
Hey Tim,
I'm not going to contradict your commentary on the parable of the talents/minas. But I would like to promote a bit of caution with regards to the God says "making money in business shows me you're a good servant" type of theme. Not to say that's specifically what you're promoting or was your intent however.
The Bible has a ton of great examples about work and labor while alive. My favorite are the references to ants and thinking about how they work - day in and day out. Also, when you combine these thoughts about ants with the wisdom expressed by the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, talking about simply experiencing pleasure from the labor itself - not necessarily the return from that labor - but a valid sense of pride in self accomplishment of something, being productive, you get a bit closer to the intent of the parable, at least in my mind. The fact that there's a difference between 10, 5 & 1 (minas) or 5, 2 & 1 (talents), to me, simply presents that there will be differences in both what is received and what is potentially generated. Jesus even mentions through many examples that there will be differences and even Revelation reveals a hierarchy that many equal seeking Christians would opt to ignore.
The world promotes many things which are defined as "successful", in which one of them is business and risk taking. While investing in the market may seem like you're being a smart "business" person, you're really just realizing a return on the investment of time and effort contributed by human beings, whether it's a single stock or the index of many stocks, any return is a result of the efforts of humans to create value - not something you were directly part of producing. Simply because you make a choice to put your money into the market does not mean you're acting like the ants and being productive.
It's a careful balance to take some scripture like Luke 19 and isolate one parable into an overarching notion of what is good for a wide range of people. I would argue that being productive is what God wants, not necessarily a quantifiable return on investment from a worldly viewpoint. For the struggling Father or Mother in a disadvantaged situation, as Christians, I would argue we don't want to invoke envy of a situation which they may not be able to take advantage of. Not everyone can start or run a business, yet everyone can be productive - whether a business owner or an employee (servant?) of a business owner. When Jesus references the physical body as a metaphor, there are many parts and they all have a role, just as many people have various roles within a society.
As Jesus himself mentioned about his own parables not being understood by his listeners at times, I think this parable and the one about the talents have a wide variety of meanings and will vary at different points in time to different people. Their literal translation, at least as it relates to making money, is tangential in my opinion. Showing God that you're doing the very best you can with what you have, rather than being lazy, seems to be a bit more in line with the what I read as the intended message.
I also find it interesting that the parable uses "business" as the theme because that is what people understand that a business owner or nobleman would want to conduct. Yet, the "business" of Jesus had his disciples leaving their businesses of making money to follow him. Maybe it isn't about exactly making money but about being productive conducting the "business" of helping God to move more souls in His direction and some type of commensurate reward. That seems like the type of currency that God would want. So, while, yes it requires worldly money to run either a business or a ministry, it's not always required to be productive in God's view - at least I hope that's the case.
Hope this doesn't offend and simply provides a different vantage point of the time and effort you put into making your content.
Not offended at all! Thanks for the careful consideration you put into sharing your thoughts!
I agree with most of what you said. The bigger principle here is to be fruitful and multiply. One does not have to be a business owner to be fruitful and multiply. And we’re all given different “amounts” to manage well. That doesn’t mean that the one who is managing more is more important or successful than those who are successfully managing less. It’s more about being aligned with the master’s mission of growth, which is why the other guy is killed.
However, Jesus’ use of business is a very practical and tangible one for many of us. So many of the lessons learned in business are great prep for ruling cities in day. That doesn’t negate or downplay the fruitfulness of being a full-time mom or an employee.
But your comment about business is well taken. I could’ve made the point stronger about the bigger blessing He gave us is to be fruitful and multiply.
my dear old frend before his twins, but I think he don't remember me anymore, but Tim is good man..
The way we’ve compartmentalised our lives is not God’s design. He’s with us always and so he’s able to work in all areas. One of my greatest joys is seeing my work colleagues take a journey of faith. If formal “ministry” is the only time we’re actually working for God then for most people that’s very limited. What about all the other hours of the week ? We’re just doing what’s necessary? Nah.
The irony for me now is I am in FT Ministry with a mixture of leading a local church and the online ministry through content. But I don’t see myself as a special one. My previous role was just as much ministry.
Yeah, all of life is a training ground for being fruitful and multiplying.