Luke 19:11-14
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: 'A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. "Put this money to work," he said, "until I come back." But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, "We don't want this man to be our king."'
In this parable, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a man planned going to a distant country, and he wanted to distribute his properties among his servants. Going to a distant country represents the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the servants represent us. The word "minas" here was originally written as "talents," which also means capability, but in the original context it's meant to represent more than just money or capability, but everything that a person possesses. As managers of the Kingdom of Heaven, what we own do not belong to us, but belong to God; our time, money, talent, and spiritual gifts were given to us by God, the ruler who has everything, so that we can use them for the Kingdom of God on earth.
I used to have the wrong idea that the Bible teaches us to tithe, which means giving one tenth of our income to God, and so other nine tenths should belong to me. When I got my salary, I always took out one tenth instantaneously, and then I told God, "Lord, this one-tenth is yours, but the nine-tenths are mine. I won't touch your money, but you better not touch mine." Not only in money, it always applied to my ministry, where I also drew a clear line with God, and thus I wasn't very happy as a Christian. When my spiritual life slowly grew, however, and I realized that everything I owe belongs to God, and when I try to distinguish what's mine and yours with God, God was actually telling me that everything's mine. It's not just one tenth, and the other nine tenths are also given by God, and they are given for us to use for the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:7: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" Our job on earth is to be managers for God, and we have no right to argue with God who owes what. Our responsibility is to use all the gifts granted by God according to His will.
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