Found Faithful : The Marks of a Wise Disciple - Cody A. Wallace

 

When I was a Junior in high school my coach took the wrestling team to a winter competition. My drilling partner was a good wrestler but was not that strong and right off the bat had to wrestle the Senior from South Dade High and three time State Champ. Needless to say the entire match my friend was flying in the air, and fitting from his back not to get pinned. The score was sad to see, it was one point from calling the match as they went into the third period, 18 – 4. . . .but that is when it happened, the wrestler from South Dade went to throw my friend but he was completely tired and gassed because he was out of shape my friend laid on him and pinned him to win the match. The kid from South Dade decided he would pretend to have a seizure on the matt, as an excuse for losing, but his coach completely mad came up and kicked him in the arm and he jumped up fine. My friend ended up placing second in the competition because of that and the guy from South Dade third, not because of the first 2 ½ periods of the match, but because of the ending.

Today many times people judge success by what you can show for your time. But in your personal walk with Jesus I want you to remember Paul said life is a boxing match, and a marathon.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NASB).

If a marathon runner beats everyone the first mile but gives up the last 25 what good is that? If you win 12 rounds in a boxing match but gas out to put down your guard and get knocked out what good is that?

King David wasn’t always successful, but was faithful in trying. The Apostle Paul wasn’t always successful in ministry, but said he pressed on toward the goal.

We have a sympathetic priest Scripture says that knows and loves and has been in our struggle....

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. (Hebrews 4:15,16).

He wants us to keep rising for another day!

Why? Because it is about faithfulness. I love this rendering in the New King James.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1,2).

It says our goal is to be faithful, meaning stick to it! No matter how many times Satan and sin knocks you down get up and try again, 'take up your cross daily' (Luke 9:23).

“But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. 35Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” (Hebrews 10:32-36).

The writer of Hebrews talking to people that had stalled and failed in their growth with Jesus, people that as he says started strong, but are now digressing and doubting. . . he says now that things are hard, press in and press on in faithfulness, because there comes a reward. You went through pain, poverty, abuse, and insult and now you are tailing off. . . there is no retirement in serving Jesus, in living for Him. Reward is based on perseverance.  

 

When you stumble, fail, or fall - get up ask forgiveness and keep going. .when you share Christ and no one trusts - keep sharing. . .or as the example of Peter when your walking on water but the waves start crashing and you sink. . .the passage is based on faithfulness - not one's success.

 “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!” - Rocky Balboa

Jesus wants those that follow Him to be faithful…

Faithful to Him, faithful to His Word, faithful to the work, faithful to serve, faithful to help, faithful to share, faithful to leave a tract, faithful to encourage, faithful to fellowship, faithful to give. . . . .FAITHFUL.

A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’  (Luke 19:12,13, NASB).

Look at this passage and make some mental notes with me. All the servants, all those serving, taking leadership, working for the master are given the same amount of finances to invest. Each one is given ten minas.

A mina was an amount of money worth about three months’ salary for a common laborer in those days. This was a pretty substantial allotment.

While the boss was away getting his new kingdom he left his workers with some money to do business with. He wants these guys to keep what he has going till he returns as KING, He was a nobleman, a man of importance but will return king of the country!

Don’t we know someone like that? Someone that came as an important person but when He comes back will be KING of King’s and LORD of Lords?

So the boss says do business, the term for do your business , πραγματεύσασθαι, pragma-toosas-thie, means to busy yourself at your work. It is where we get our English word Pragmatic from meaning to matter-of-fact, down-to-earth and exciting. It means you have it together no matter what is happening. You are a practical worker!

The boss wants us to be at work while he is gone.

Jesus wants us to be busy and intelligent with our time and his resources…so let’s get at it. And He has gifted and granted us ability to do His work!

So, what happens while the boss is away? What happens while the head is out receiving his kingdom? What goes on while the leader is getting his crown?

 

“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” (v. 14).

The towns people are giving a revolt against the boss man. And it gives no reason, or no logical reason other than we do not want Him. . . there is no cause, no reason, no offense, no problem, just NOT HIM!

But now comes the time when the two groups are going to give account. The group that were his workers and the group that he rules over. The group that he is boss of and the group that he watched over. Now that he is king both groups now have to give an account for what they did while he was away. . . one group, his workers were given the task to invest. . . did they do it?

And the citizens. . . they sent a group to appose him. They sent a group to say we don’t like your choice. These are not citizens of heaven, of the Father of God, these are citizens of earth, of where the nobleman is taking over, Jesus is going to be granted King of earth and unbelievers will not be happy.

“Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 3:17-20).

Now the king is back. Let’s read about what happens with his servants, the workers he had trusted to invest his minas while he was gone.

“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. 16“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18“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.’” vs.15-19).

The first servant comes and has 10 more than what was given. He was given 10 and now he has 20. In other words he worked hard while the master was away! He was prudent, he was savvy, he was smart.

The second comes and he has made 5 more than he was given. He went from 10 to fifteen! Both are blessed for their efforts while the boss was away. The boss is now king so now you will be leaders in the kingdom.

Every believer will give an account.

That is why Jesus says the master left His servants, those serving Him, not strangers from the outside.

Paul says:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10).

And these two men served faithfully till the master returned.

Because you were smart and stayed busy for your boss, now that your boss has gotten a raise he wants to keep you around because you can be trusted!

These men cared about the boss man, they cared about their new king… they said master, while you were gone we made you more money, we increased what you gave, so there would be more than what you started with. We doubled, we tripled, we increased because it benefited you and increased your mina. Their focus was not on them but on getting an increase.

But then we come to his last worker, the last believer that what considered a servant but was not faithful in serving.

The last servant doesn’t care about increasing the kings minas, he’s not worried about staying busy at the kings work, he’s not worried that his masters coming back to take accounts.

“Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24“Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25“And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” (vs. 20-26).

Master here is what is yours I hid it I put it in a handkerchief and I hid it in the ground so no one could find it. I know you wanted me to be busy while you were away, I know you said be smart with what I gave you but understand you take plants that grow from seeds you did not plant!

Why should I waste my time staying busy for you while you’re away just to give you what I have been producing? You want what I have been working at. . . you want returns, you want to see increase, but it has to come from my sweat, my work, my effort, my time and my commitment….

You see this issue is not about who will work for God. . . no Jesus says the servants all work for Him, just some get busy and some hide their work. It’s not about accepting stewardship either, it’s about what will you do with what ya’ got!

The men that worked for the king were the ones that knew him as the nobleman. In other words they were already under his authority and working with his property.

Jesus is not asking you to share His investment into your life with others.

He’s telling you to Go and make disciples.

He’s not asking you He’s telling you. He’s not saying when you come round to it, or when you feel like it, He’s saying get busy making my influence felt and growing my subjects to the kingdom.

Because our KING is coming, our boss that left a Savior and Son is returning a KING of Kings and LORD of Lords and when He returns He wants to see what we have been doing with GRACE that He gave us!

On that day those that have invested their life to His cause will receive a reward for faithfulness, for the perseverance in living a life for Jesus in sticking to the marathon of life, in getting up time and time again when the world and Satan knocked them down and wanted to call them out. . . .stay FAITHFUL!!! Those that have seen His cause as the one to work for, those that were okay with Him asking for the plants after you planted the seed, those that got busy and stayed busy, Jesus will say I came back the king and you have done well MY FAITHFUL SERVANT!!!!