Those who have a passion for harvest will think about and prepare for the harvest throughout the year, not just in the few days that the harvest is actually being gathered in. They will follow the commandment that Jesus verbalized in the parable of the pounds, “Occupy until I come.” (Luke 19:13)
“Occupy” is a military term referring to occupation forces who come into a conquered territory to keep peace during the rebuilding period. These are not the same soldiers who waged war against the people; therefore, they do not see the people as their enemies. The occupation forces may actually help feed and heal the people. In at least one aspect, we have to take Jesus’ command in this sense — we are to be a healing and rebuilding force in the sinful world around us, what we would otherwise consider to be enemy territory.
“Occupy” also means to stand in authority. Several years ago I went to see the prehistoric pagan shrine Stonehenge in England on June 21, the only day of the year that the British government grants permission for people to go inside the fence surrounding the monoliths. The sun-worship cults demanded their religious rights and convinced the government to open the gates so they can do their ceremonies among the stones on this one day when the sun rises over the high altar. As I was touring the site, one of the sun worshipers stood up and began threatening our group because he felt that we were desecrating the sun worshipers’ event by talking. One of the guys in our group — a huge hunk of a man — walked around to the man making all the threats and started cracking his knuckles as if he were ready for a fight. The sun worshiper whimpered and went back to his devilish chants, trying to pretend that we weren’t there. Our “hero” never had to do anything physical to anybody. He just walked toward our opponent and stood there. His massive presence demonstrated that he was in authority. When he cracked his knuckles he sent out such a strong message that the challenger simply left us alone. The sun worshiper knew that he had met more than his match. Our friend defeated the enemy the same way Jesus did Satan during His temptation when He stood firm on His authority — in Jesus’ case, the Word of God — until the devil left Him. Imagine how much more authoritatively we can stand now that we have the New Testament to add to the Old Testament authority on which Jesus stood.
“Occupy” also means to do business, which is the meaning implied in this particular context. In this parable, the master gave resources to each of his stewards and then told them to do business during his absence. The monetary resources should be interpreted to represent all the intellectual and spiritual resources as well as the physical ones which the Lord entrusts to us as He leaves us in charge while we await the harvest: intelligence, skills, education, love, gifts of the Spirit, money, and more.
A similar parable in Matthew 25:14-30 makes the same points but adds a bit of clarity to a few of the details. Let’s take a look at this story to see what we can glean concerning our responsibility of doing business until harvest time.
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Although this parable teaches many lessons concerning stewardship, I want to limit our discussion to a few points concerning the steward who was given one talent. Notice that the master distributed the talents according to the abilities of the various stewards. He didn’t give anyone more than he could handle, nor did he give any of them less than his potential. This is a picture of our God who gives us exactly what He knows we are able to master. With this truth in mind, we should never complain that we have “too much on our plates” nor should we be jealous or envious of others who are given more resources or greater responsibilities. Our Heavenly Father has hand-fashioned our place in life, knowing exactly what our individual capacities are. The one who was given one talent was not dishonored by what was placed in his hand; on the contrary, he should have been thankful that he was not given more. He would have been overwhelmed had he been left in charge of two talents and devastated had be been expected to tend to five.
When the master returned, he asked his stewards to give account of what they had done with the talents which had been entrusted to them. The steward under consideration said that he had kept the talent safely hidden away and offered the explanation that he knew that the nature of the master was that he increased even where he had not invested. The servant was concerned that he might not be able to turn a profit like the master would have, so he kept the money hidden so that, at the least, he would not lose any of the capital. He described himself as being fearful over making transactions with the money left in his responsibility. The master responded angrily, charging the steward as being slothful and wicked rather than fearful. He explained that the steward knew the heart of the master yet operated in direct contradiction to what he knew. Interestingly enough, the parable never mentions that the master gave any commands concerning investing or increasing the talents. Apparently, he expected the servants to act in accordance to what they had learned from being around him. In much the same way, Jesus told us that what He did was because of what He had seen His Father doing. (John 5:19) He similarly challenged us to learn from our relationship with Him. (Matthew 11:29) The steward was not necessarily punished for failing to present the master with a profit; rather, his punishment was because of his lack of acting in accordance with the nature of the master. The punishment consisted of not only having the talent taken from him but of also being thrown into outer darkness.
At first, it seems that this is a very severe penalty for a man who made a rather honest mistake. However, if we consider the context in which this parable was given, we can see the significance of the man’s sentence. The parable appears in the setting of Jesus’ teachings about the end time. It is followed immediately by the parable of the separation of the sheep and the goats. A parallel concept can be found in this parable in the distinction between those who were invited into the kingdom that was prepared for them from the foundation of the earth and those who were doomed to the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. The dividing line between these two groups was whether they cared for the hurting and the less fortunate. Interestingly enough, there is no indication that there was ever a directive given them concerning such benevolence; they were simply expected to do so because such acts of kindness are part of the very nature of God which they should have learned from being with Him. In the previous chapter, the declaration is made that the gospel will be preached to the entire world before the scheduled end of the age. This unprofitable servant had not acted in a way to bring about the expansion of this end-time ministry; therefore, he was not only responsible for the talent but also for all the souls which that talent could have reached. It is no wonder that the master punished him so severely.
In this parable, Jesus described this servant as being unprofitable; in one other discourse, He used the same terminology to describe servants. The servants in this discussion had worked all day and were very busy fulfilling every one of the master’s commands, yet still evaluated themselves as unprofitable, saying that they had done only what was required of them.
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17: 7-10)
With seemingly no regard for how hard they had already worked during the day, these servants were expected to prepare a meal and serve the master upon his return. In a contrasting teaching, Jesus tells us of servants who were greeted by their master and invited to sit while he served them the evening meal.
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:36-37)
Why would there be such a difference? The answer is found in the preceding verses which provide the context for the story. These were stewards who had learned the heart of their master and were seeking after it rather than the advancement of their physical or fiscal wellbeing. They were pursuing the kingdom of God — and the God of the kingdom — with their very hearts and had converted all their earthly resources into true riches (Luke 16:11) by helping bring others to the King and His kingdom.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:31-34)
Like David, who was a man after God’s own heart (Acts13:22), God was ready to prepare a table for them — even in the very presence of their enemies. (Psalm 23:5)
To understand the true riches which were mentioned a couple paragraphs ago, we need to take a new look at the parable of the unjust steward which we find recorded in Luke 16:1-13.
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
At first reading, this parable seems to present a number of problems and even contradict what we know about Jesus and the Christian life. Is Jesus really advocating that we depend on ungodly people, this world’s wealth, and crooked schemes in order to obtain an eternal reward? Actually, His concluding statements let us know that Jesus is not telling us to love and trust mammon (money). But what exactly is it that He is really saying in this parable? If we look into some other translations of the Bible, we can begin to pick up some bits of understanding about this section of scripture. In the Message Bible, Eugene Peterson gives a reading that helps us to see that the object of this parable is not to praise the unjust steward but to awaken the children of light to how unwise we can be.
Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way — but for what is right — using every adversity to stimulate you to crave survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.
Note that the steward is still called “unjust” and “crooked”; his character is never exonerated — only his actions. To really understand what the steward did, we must think back to the relationship between a land owner and a steward at this time in history. We see a good example of this in the story of Joseph when he served in the house of Potipher in Egypt. The scriptures indicate that the master didn’t even know how much he owned because his steward Joseph was totally in charge. In the story we have before us today, it seems that this same situation applies. It was an outside informant who told the master that the steward was not caring properly for the goods entrusted to him. When the steward learned that he was to have his day of reckoning, he took action to recoup some of his master’s losses rather than force him into bankruptcy. This was a wise — although crooked — action on his part at the time.
In applying this principle to the kingdom of God, I am impressed that we, the children of light, have a horrible reputation for letting the world around us go into total bankruptcy rather than using the God-given resources we have to win at least part of them. When Jesus went back to the Father after His resurrection, He left us in charge of His goods here on earth and gave us a mandate to be responsible for the souls of men. If we are going to be wise according to the biblical definition given in Proverbs 11:30, we must win souls. We may not be able to totally fill the Master’s barns with the souls of men, but at least we should get as many as possible into the kingdom.
As I was leaving Zimbabwe during a trip to Africa several years ago, I had an adventure — well, actually an almost adventure — which really emphasized this point to me. On Saturday afternoon before I was scheduled to fly back to Nairobi on Sunday, I thought that it might be good to double check the reservations. When I did, I was told that I had been canceled off the flight. The local pastor and I rushed to the airport to try to get the problem straightened out. It took about an hour to get reinstated on the flight, which I learned was now scheduled for 11 AM rather than 1:30 PM. That meant that I would miss preaching in the Sunday morning service, but at least I wouldn’t miss getting to Kenya in time to meet my wife to fly back to the USA. It was only after the plane was ready to depart that I finally figured out what had happened. The plane had been commissioned by the president of Zimbabwe. He had a meeting in the nation of Malawi, so he had the airline empty enough seats so that he and his entourage could use the plane. He also had them re-route the flight to go to Malawi before going to Kenya and change the departure time so that he would arrive at the proper time for his meeting. Well, he, his wife, and a host of officials and newsmen filled the front of the plane. They didn’t have any special guard keeping people away from their section, and they didn’t even close the curtain between the compartments. I was seated in the row just behind his party and could have walked up to shake the president’s hand, but I didn’t have a good excuse except, “Gee, I’d like to shake the hand of a president.” Only after he deplaned did I think about the ten copies of my book on the will of God in my briefcase. I should have walked up and given them to him and told him that I wanted to offer them to him and his advisors because I knew that they had so many important decisions to make. By then it was too late — I had totally missed my opportunity to have an input into the leaders of an entire nation!
Proverbs 18:16 tells us that a man’s gift makes a place for him and brings him before great men. If I had been as wise as the unjust steward — whom the Message Bible says looks for every angle — I would have never let that opportunity to present a physical gift which contained my spiritual gift of teaching to President. Mugabe and his cabinet.
The point of the story is that we are given resources to be stewards over and we need to use them to build God’s kingdom. My sitting still on that airplane is just one illustration of how unwise we can be in failing to properly execute our responsibilities as stewards. William Barclay, a great British Bible commentator, once wrote:
Material possessions should be used to cement the friendships wherein the real and permanent value of life lies. It should be done as it affects eternity. The rabbis had a saying, “The rich help the poor in this world, but the poor help the rich in the world to come.” Ambrose said, “The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever.” It was the Jewish belief that charity given to poor people would stand to a man’s credit in the world to come. A man’s true wealth would not be in what he kept, but in what he gave away. Possessions are not in themselves a sin, but they are a great responsibility, and the man who uses them to help his friends has gone far to discharge that responsibility.
To Barclay’s observation, I would like to add my own motto about the place of money in the Christian’s life: Make money a device for the kingdom of God or it will become a vice for the god of this world. Many times I’ve heard Dr. Lester Sumrall during telethons asking the viewers to donate jewelry and other items which could be sold to help support Christian broadcasting. He would often conclude such an appeal with the challenge, “God gave His own Son for us, and we won’t even give Him our junk.” I suppose we have all heard the story of the man who told Dr. Sumrall that if he had a million dollars he would give it to the ministry. Dr. Sumrall’s response was, “Don’t lie to me! I know that you wouldn’t, because you won’t even give me the hundred dollars you do have!” In the parable we know as the parable of the sower, Jesus said that some of the seed which could have produced a harvest was choked out by thorns and thistles which represent the deceitfulness of riches — riches which had become a vice to choke the life out of the seed.
I need to tell you a little story about a couple from the inner city of Indianapolis. The husband was one of the exceptions who began in the “hood,” but — as we say — “made it good.” Even though he didn’t have the university education for it, he achieved a very high position in the engineering department of an international pharmaceutical company. This couple had a beautiful home in the suburbs with all the upper-middle-class trimmings — essentially, the American dream. However, their dream life had one nightmarish chapter to it: they had a son who had turned to a life of crime and was in prison. As they would go to the prison to visit their son, folks who did not have their own transportation began to contact them, asking for rides to the prison to visit their sons and husbands who were also at the same facility. At first, it was just one or two; then it became an endless line of callers. Before long, they were having to turn down the requests. But knowing how much it meant to them to be able to visit their own son and how much it meant to their son to have them visit, their hearts ached each time they had to say, “No.” Finally, the wife turned to her husband and said, “We have to use what we’ve got to help these people.” From that one statement, they decided to sell their home and move back into the ghetto to a home they had inherited from the husband’s mother. With the money from their home, they purchased a bus and began a full-time ministry of taking people to all the prisons and correctional institutions in Indiana. They play Christian music on the bus and offer counseling and ministry to their passengers. At Christmas time, they sponsor a big party for the children of the inmates and provide them with nice gifts. From this bus service, a church has been planted in the inner city, the governor of the state has given them special citizenship awards, Guidepost Magazine has told the story in a feature article, and “Use What You’ve Got” has become not only a motto for living but the name of their ministry. This couple has learned to be wise stewards and are filling the Master’s barns.
One very perplexing issue in the parable of the unjust steward is the question of guaranteeing an entrance into everlasting life. The reading in the King James Version sounds as if the friends you make with your money are going to be able to take care of your eternal destiny. Of course we know that this is not true, so let’s turn to some other translations to see if they provide a little insight. Kenneth Taylor’s reading in The Living Bible assures us that we are on the wrong track when we feel that these friends are able to provide eternal security for us.
The rich man had to admire the rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more clever {in dishonesty} than the godly are. But shall I tell you to act that way, to buy friendship through cheating? Will this ensure your entry into an everlasting home in heaven? No! (Implied) For unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Notice how the New International Version of the passage doesn’t say that these individuals will provide eternal life, but that you will be welcomed when you attain your eternal life:
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
To me this speaks of Jesus’ command to lay up our treasures in heaven. In other words, rather than having everything left behind here on earth, we need to have something waiting for us in heaven. In Luke 12:32-34, Jesus taught us, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In His discussion with the gentleman we traditionally call “the rich young ruler,” Jesus added, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matthew 19:21) The scripture goes on to say that the young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. I would question whether he really had great possessions or if the possessions had him! Money is power. Position is power. But — as so many people with money and position throughout history have discovered — we cannot rely on the power of money and position to rescue us because that power is fallible. A friend of ours had a dream about her employer, who is a very wealthy man. In the dream, she saw the man in hell. He was reaching into his pocket, pulling out money to hand to the devil, apparently trying to buy his way out of the torment. With each of his offers, the devil laughed harder and harder. The devil’s joke was that the man was a fool to think that he could get out of hell with the same money which the devil had used to get him there.
When writing about our parable, the editor of The Bible Knowledge Commentary makes this observation, “Jesus was saying that one should use wealth, not store it up or be a servant to it. Wealth should be a disciple’s servant, not vice versa. The disciples’ wise use of wealth would help lead others to believe the message of the kingdom and bring them to accept that message.” The Amplified Bible says, “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon {that is, deceitful riches, money, possessions}, so that when it fails, they {those you have favored} may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings).” Perhaps the meaning of this passage is best illustrated in the Ray Boltz song in which several people greet a new arrival in heaven. They all stop to tell him thank you because he was the reason they had made it safely through the Gates of Pearl.
The first century church in Jerusalem learned and lived by the principle which can be summed up in the little poem: Only one life will soon be past; Only what’s done for Christ will last.
They had been warned by Jesus that there was coming a time when Jerusalem would be destroyed to the point that not one stone would be left standing upon another. (Matthew 24:2) Because they realized that their material possessions were soon to fail, they had no lasting attachment to them. This is why it was so easy for them to let go of their property and live with all things in common. (Acts 2:44-45) They believed the warning Jesus had given them — that they should not even go back inside their houses to try to gather up any possessions when they saw the enemy approaching. (Matthew 24:17-18) According to the earliest church history written by Eusebius, even though there were hundreds of thousands of lives lost when the Romans attacked and razed the city in 70 AD, not one Christian died in the carnage. They had nothing of value in the city to make them lag behind when they saw the army approaching. The only treasure they had was the souls they had won to the Lord, so they wrapped their arms around their spiritual brothers and sisters and escaped the city before the gates were barricaded.
When my wife and I met with a financial advisor to work out a plan for our financial future, he understood that our major objective was to provide maximum resources for giving to charitable and evangelical work; however, the plan he drew up was that we should save all our money and leave it to charity in our wills. Our response to him was, “It will be too late then.” He didn’t understand that earthly resources are doomed to fail and that they must be used for the kingdom of God before they fail! Jesus Himself warned us that we must do what we intend to do while there is still time to act: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)
The passage assures us that our resources will fail. It doesn’t say “If it fails”; it says, “When it fails.” Perhaps that is why Jesus tells us in the parable of the sower that those who get choked by the deceitfulness of riches will not bear any fruit; not only do they allow the riches to keep them from investing in others’ lives, they also find that what they treasures actually fail to take care of them when they try to depend upon them. On September 11, 2001, we learned that the greatest military force in the world and the most sophisticated intelligence can fail when confronted by a handful of men with box cutters and pocket knives. But we don’t have to wait for a national disaster; millions each day face their own personal day of reckoning which proves to them that their resources — no matter how great — are impermanent. I witness this reality every time I visit the nursing home and see the one-time pillars of society who are now devastated by disease to the point that they can’t care for themselves or even remember the members of their own families. In I Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul tells us that even our religion and spiritual gifts are not to be seen as sources of security because they will fail and must be counted as useless unless they are motivated by love. In Psalm 20:7, David affirmed that there was only one thing that endures, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
It doesn’t take much to win a friend for yourself or for the Lord: a smile, a kind word, a gift, or a random act of kindness. With enough of us working together we can supply enough humanitarian aid to impact whole nations.
In a church service immediately after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, a prophetic word came forth in our service reminding us that opportunities come swiftly and we must give swiftly and move while harvest is ready. We are not promised tomorrow and we are not assured that we will have a chance, as did the unjust steward, to redeem any missed opportunities. I doubt that I’ll ever again be within just a few feet of the president of Zimbabwe. Likewise, you may never have a second chance at the openings you will face today. We must learn to live as Martin Luther did. When asked what he would do if this were to be his last day on earth, he began to describe his daily routine. His questioner replied, “But, Martin, this is exactly the way you live each day.” He answered, “Yes, that’s the point!”
We must live every day as if it were the last one because things will not always be the same. The steward discovered this point on the day that his master called on him to give an account. The fortunate thing for him was that he had a chance to redeem himself. We must repent of being too dependent upon impermanent securities and lacking the insight to act wisely to fill our Master’s barns in this time of harvest.