Scripture to Read: Luke 19:18-19
Jesus then told about the second servant’s report, as we read in Luke 19:18–19, “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’” We immediately see that the second servant reported a fivefold increase. Because of his faithfulness to invest the one mina well, he received five cities as a reward. We need to note that the second servant was never compared negatively with the first. Even though the second servant did not have as much to give to the nobleman, he was still rewarded for his service. The king’s evaluation seems to be measured by what each servant actually did, not based on some sort of competition with each other. This parable doesn’t teach that every believer will receive exactly the same reward for their service to our Lord Jesus Christ. What it does teach is that the king sees and honors faithful service even when the results are not the same. The first servant’s tenfold gain wasn’t presented as the required standard that everyone had to meet. So, when the second servant reported the fivefold gain, it was also complimented and rewarded. Jesus wanted His listeners, and us, to understand that productive faithfulness is what He’s looking for with what each person has received from Him. Even though many might be given the exact same gifts, Jesus is not going to compare our service with others, but whether we were faithful with what He knows He has given to each one of us.
Challenge & Application
Since Jesus desires us to be faithful servants, how faithful are you with what you know He has already given you?
How do you guard your heart from comparing yourself to others?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!