I have been a little selfish with my time lately. As a mom of two boys, one of those being only seven months old, my free time is very limited. I have to cram my day to day responsibilities in between naps and school schedules, or find my kids a source of entertainment (that isn’t me) to get things done. After a long day, some times all I want to do is scroll through my phone in the comfort of my bed, play a video game, or just do anything that requires no real effort at all. But a gentle lesson from the Lord this morning out of Luke chapter 19 opened my mind to the bigger picture.

In the parable of the Ten Minas, we read of a noble man who was leaving the country to become king. He entrusted his servants with three months worth of wages, telling them to put the money to work until He returns. Upon his return, his first servant made an impressive 1000% increase, earning 10 more minas. The king praised him and gave him authority over ten cities. The second servant earned 5 more minas, earning him 5 cities to take charge of. The last servant simply laid aside his Mina, not doing anything with it. So the king rebukes him and takes away the mina, giving it to the man who had earned 10. The king responds with this verse “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 away from him.” (Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬)

It’s not that the king needed money. It’s that he entrusted his servants to put his resources to work until he returns. God has given us all talents, gifts, and resources to use for his kingdom. If we choose, in laziness or disobedience, to not use what God has given us, we lose everything. Not necessarily in this life per se, but in the one to come.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬

For me personally, I have been praying for God to open doors for me to serve Him, praying for increase in certain areas, yet I have been so selfish with my time. It’s not that God doesn’t want us to rest because we know from Genesis that God made rest a priority. But He is saying to me, “I’ve given you seed to sow that will reap the rewards you’re praying for, yet you have neglected the work that sowing requires.”

One example is this very blog. I love to write and I’ve prayed God would allow me to use this gift in more areas, yet I have set aside very little time lately to glean from God’s word to even write at all. So God nudged me with this parable today, reminding me that He hears my prayers, He has entrusted me with this gift, but if I can’t be trusted with the little I’ve begun with, how can He entrust me with anything more?

I read from a study in enduring word that “the reward for faithful service is not rest, but more service… The great reward of God to the man who has satisfied the test is more trust.”

When Jesus returns, I want Him to greet me with a “well done my good and faithful servant!” I want Him to consider me trustworthy. Most of all, I want to do what He sent his people here to do, to share the love and glory of the gospel to the world!