Meeting Jesus - Trust The Plan
In the tapestry of our lives, trust forms the intricate threads that weave us closer to God. Yet, trust is no easy feat, especially when it has been fractured in our relationships with others. The Bible is replete with stories of individuals tasked with trusting God's plan for their lives, often in what seems like unconventional and, at times, downright crazy ways.
Trusting God Beyond Understanding:
Consider Abraham, who was instructed to leave his home without a clear destination. "Don't worry about it, follow me," God assured. Noah faced the seemingly absurd task of building an ark without knowing what an ark even was. Hosea was directed to marry a prostitute as part of God's divine plan. These stories may appear crazy when viewed through worldly lenses, but they teach us that the more we understand God, the more we can trust Him.
The Unpredictable Master and His Servants:
In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus shares a parable to illustrate the importance of living as if we truly trust God's plan. The story involves a nobleman who entrusts his servants with resources before embarking on a distant journey. The servants are given both responsibility and authority over the master's money.
Luke 19:11-27 (NLT2)
11 The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away. 12 He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. 13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ 14 But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’ 15 “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. 16 The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ 17 “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’ 18 “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’ 19 “‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’ 20 “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. 21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ 22 “‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, 23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 “‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ 26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
If you give away RESPONSIBILITY, you must also give away AUTHORITY
The servants, equipped with the master's money, were expected to make more for their master. This underscores the principle that responsibility and authority go hand in hand. If you delegate responsibility, you must grant the corresponding authority. The master's money became the servants' responsibility, and they had the authority to make decisions to grow it.
Our Individual Responsibility in God's Kingdom:
In the same way, Jesus has entrusted us with resources and given us complete authority over them. Whether spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, or financial resources, we are called to make daily decisions to invest in God's Kingdom. This responsibility can be daunting, but as Daniel 4:35 reminds us, God's sovereign plan will prevail even when we don't fully understand it.
Our actions demonstrate our guiding values
Demonstrating Guiding Values:
The parable further reveals that the first two servants believed in their master's plan. They invested the money, made a profit, and were rewarded upon his return. Their actions demonstrated their guiding values—they valued and believed in their master's plan, expected his return, and believed in the necessity of making a profit.
Conversely, the third servant's misplaced beliefs about his master led to inaction. He accused the master of being harsh, lazy, and a thief, projecting his own shortcomings onto the master. This servant failed to understand that the master's plan was to earn a profit, and his lack of trust resulted in missed opportunities.
When we trust God's plan, we trust God's character
Trusting God's Character:
The story reminds us that when we trust God's plan, we trust His character. The first two servants recognized the master's intentions, while the third servant projected his own flaws onto the master. Trusting God involves understanding His character, His goodness, and His plan.
As servants of Jesus, we are called to invest in His Kingdom, trusting His plan and character. Our actions reflect our guiding values, demonstrating whether we truly believe in His return and our responsibility in advancing His Kingdom. Let us live with the conviction that God's will is going to be done, and He uses us as instruments in His grand symphony.
In trusting God, we find not only peace but also the joy of being part of His redemptive plan. Whatever God has entrusted you with, trust His plan, for it is within His authority and according to His divine purpose.