The Mina that Multiplies

by Fay Barlow
(Lexington, Sc USA)

Luke: 19:12-27

Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, you mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have dept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’”

I have many questions for myself about this parable that Jesus taught. When I read the Bible, I always ask myself “Who am I in this?”
According to the story, the nobleman was going away to receive his kingdom. He had ten servants and gave each of them a mina, which is about four months’ wages. Now the citizens of that country hated the nobleman and didn’t want him to rule.

The nobleman is Jesus, who ascended into heaven and will return to earth one day. The citizens are those who are opposed to the word of God and to Jesus as the only way of salvation. The servants are those who belong to the nobleman, we Christians.

Each of us, God’s servants, has been given a “mina” of sorts. A talent or gift which we should use to further the nobleman’s kingdom. After all, we are the servants, not the master!
In the parable, when the nobleman comes home, he calls his servants to give an account to what they have done with the generous gift that was given them.

Servant one is what I would describe as a risk taker. He, or she, understood the instructions given and wholeheartedly plunged forward to please the master. There was probably little or no fear in that servant.

Servant two would be the more cautious person, but would still risk much and would gain plenty. Both of these servants trusted in and understood the responsibility that had been given to them.

Servant three was a man or woman full of fear and possibly struggled with an issue of self-doubt. This servant didn’t invest the mina’ but also didn’t spend it. He was paralyzed by possible fear of failure or rejection.

As I think about and compare the three servants to others who have done so much for the Kingdom of God through the ages, I wonder which of the servants I am. For me, servant three is my comrade in life. Risk taking is sometimes just another word for possibility of failure.

Taking that mina’ or gift that God has given me, is sometimes more comfortable held close in my hand or buried somewhere than held open for the entire world to see, and criticize. It is a question of trust. Two servants trusted their master’s confidence in them while the third, trusted, well, no one.

And what are the gifts or talents? These are the things that God has equipped each believer with to use to further the Kingdom. The gift of hospitality. A beautiful voice. A listening ear. An encouraging word. A teaching heart. The list can go on. It is taking that gift and bringing glory to God with it. That is the mina’ that multiplies. That is the servant that understands the will and work of the Master.

And what about the other seven servants. There were ten, right? What did they do with their minas’? And where are they? They heard the instructions just like the others. Did they decide to take what the master had given them and use it for themselves? To further their own kingdom?

One more thought. Since the citizens of this land hated the Nobleman, the servants were most likely disliked, also. So there must have been opposition when the servants were using their minas’ to further the master’s kingdom. Maybe that’s why the seven servants either did nothing or vanished. Fear of opposition. Or something more human, like wanting to fit in.

Whatever the case, we all have a choice with our “mina”, our gifts. Yes, fear can be a motivator and a paralyzer, but trust and love for the master can also motivate just as much.

In Eugene H. Peterson’s The Message//remix translation, Luke 19: 26 says it this way: “He said, ‘that’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

Lord, help me today to understand my gift and use it to further your kingdom, not my own. When I trust you, the master, with what you have equipped me to do, and do it with no hesitation and no fear, then I am a true servant.