2. Just imagine Catalonia (or Cameroon)

3. 1. WHy is Jesus telling this Story?
Salvation of Zaccheus the tax - collector!
Jesus & his disciples on their way to Jerusalem
They thought the Kingdom of God was going to appear soon
"Therefore [Jesus] said:"…
If even this evil person can be saved, the end must be near!
Jerusalem - Royal City - Jesus is surely going to proclaim his kingship in Jerusalem anytime soon!
"Therefore" Jesus said

4. 2. Cultural background
"A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return…"
30 years earlier Herod Archelaus went to Rome to receive authority from Caesar to be king of Judea
His enemies also went to Rome to plead against his appointment

5. Meaning…?
Searching the internet I found lots of American articles using this parable as a defence of capitalism
In the European West we were usually taught this is about "self-development", but then of course with a spiritual touch :)

6. Parables always are about the kingdom of God
Jesus is the nobleman who will be absent for a while to receive authority to be King and then return
Jesus gives his servants part of his "business", they represent him while he is away
Jesus has enemies who don’t want him to be king, serving him in his absence is a potential risk!
"When will he return, if he returns, and how…?"
It happened that a ruler went to Rome and got killed instead of receiving authority!
Just imagine what would happen if you had served him and someone else became king!

7. "Better safe than sorry"
This is the mindset of the servant who hides his money
"Wicked slave!"
He’s a coward

8. or is it…? "Master, your money has made…"
"Well done, you splendid servant! You have been trustworthy with something small; now you can take command of ten cities!"
Matthew 25: "Well done, good and … slave!
"Come and share in your master’s joy!"
Not "I have" or "my efforts" - grace gift of the Lord!
Mat. 25: "Well done, you good and faithful slave! … Come and share in your master’s joy!

9. The Lord will summon his servants to find out "how they did in business"
#faithful #trustworthy #loyal
faithfulness leads to more responsibility!
The wicked servant was judged by his own words
The consequence of opposing Jesus’ rightful kingship will be very serious…

10. how can we lay a solid foundation?
Hear & Do

11. Questions
God’s grace-gift -10 minas- is unmerited, but comes with a huge responsibility! - Do others think you live responsibly in light of God’s grace-gift?
#faithful #trustworthy #loyal: Are you always loyal to Jesus, in which way(s) you could be more loyal?
Our faithfulness now, will be rewarded later in the New Kingdom! - What specific things are you doing now to make sure you’ll have a great reward from Jesus later?