Today's Passage - Luke 19:20-27

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 19:20-27   'Then another servant came and said, "Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.  I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow."  His master replied, "I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?  Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?"  Then he said to those standing by, "Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas."  "Sir," they said, "he already has ten!"  He replied, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.  But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them in front of me."'   When the third servant returned, he just gave the one mina he received back to the master, and then the master rebuked him as a "wicked servant."  Why?  First of all, the servant didn't understand the master's heart, for he thought that the master was harsh, but he didn't know that the master was also filled with grace, wasn't it?  The master liked to have the servants enjoyed all he's got with him, that's why he allowed the first servant to rule ten cities and the second servant five.  But inside the heart of the third servant there was a misled fear, thus he couldn't receive any reward from the master.  Second, the servant didn't even bother trying to earn more, for he didn't even deposit the money in the bank, so he must have been a lazy person.  God called us to the faithful servants, but if we don't follow God's word and we hide our gifts so that they won't be used by God, one day God will also rebuke us as useless servants.   Something is "useless" because it's not used; in the spiritual realm there's an everlasting rule: the more we use the gifts, the more we will have; the more blessings we give away, the more blessings we will have.  It's just like our hands: Most people are accustomed to using right hands, so the right hand become more and more able; however, the left hand become less and less able because it's never used.  That's why the Lord said that "to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away."  Those who are willing to be used for God's Kingdom, God will give more; on the contrary, those who are not willing to be used by God will be frozen and become useless vessels that cannot bring forth any blessings.   Brothers and sisters, are you faithful in whatever God has entrusted you?  It really doesn't matter what you have, but it's just whether you are willing to be used by the Lord!  When you are happy to be used by the Lord, the Lord will call you a faithful and good servant!     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please don't let us become useless servants in the gifts and talents that you have entrusted us.  May the Lord give us a willing heart, so that we will be used by you in our daily life, and pour down your blessing and joy upon each brother and sister.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!