Do You Want to Be Rich?
Rev. Richard A. Bolland

Luke 19:11-27
(November 14, 2004 Sermon Transcript)

Click here to listen to an audio recording of this sermon!

Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

From the Gospel lesson today, Christ’s concluding words.  "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.'" 

Perhaps not the most cheerful ending to a gospel lesson we’ve ever heard.  And yet, it brings us to the last Sundays of the church year, this being the second-last Sunday of the church year.  And that focus is always on Christ’s second coming, His return to us.  And all the riches that He bears in mind, and that He bears in mind for you, and for me. 

I think probably just about everybody is aware of a television quiz show call Who Wants to be a Millionaire?   I suppose I could ask for a show of hands.  (It didn’t take some of you very long!)  I would suggest, of course, that that is a silly question.  We’d all love to be millionaires.  We’d all love to be rich, would we not?   

But I would suggest to you that this gospel lesson today indicates that you are, indeed, rich.  That God has given you a treasure far beyond anything that mere mortal temporal wealth can provide.  He has given you the precious gift of the treasure of the kingdom. 

He teaches us that lesson in a parable.  Now parables are among the most marvelous things that Jesus does for us, for He unfolds, with a story, the meaning that lies behind the story.  And so, as we read this particular parable about the king who is going to come back and who is going to require an accounting of the treasure that He left with His stewards, then let it be known that (it is) in this age we now live.  For it is of course, and indeed Christ who is the servant who is going away, the nobleman who will come back and be king. And when He comes back, He is going to ask what has happened during the age of the church.  This age between His ascension and His return, during which that treasure which He’s left is to be used to do business in the world for the sake of the kingdom. 

What is the treasure?  What is the mina, if you will?  First of all, remember this.  In this parable, unlike some of the others, it is exactly the same thing, in the same amount, that is left in the hands of each and every disciple, each and every servant.  One mina, ten in all are given. 

As our church year draws to a close, let it be known that our King is indeed returning.  God keeps His promises.  And in His absence He has provided incredible riches for each and every one of us.  You see, our Lord Jesus Christ, left all of His spiritual wealth in the hands of His church when He ascended into heaven.  The wealth He deposited into our hands is the treasure of the church.   And that treasure is nothing less than the word of God and the sacraments of God.   

Here in these precious means of grace is the very portal to heaven.  For before us in His word, in His baptism, in His holy supper, are the very means by which people come to know the Lord, and the way in which they approach Him.  The church simply has nothing comparable to them.  Nothing comparable to this treasure.  

In the means of grace, I would suggest to you, rests the capital entrusted to the church, which is to be used to do the business of the church at this time.  It is, indeed, true that there are no other riches that the church has.  Indeed, we have no other thing to proclaim, for we are given the very teachings, the doctrine, of the faith to proclaim, and therefore to introduce people to the very treasure of life itself, through Jesus Christ’s suffering and death and resurrection. 

And I would assure you that no amount of Madison Avenue advertisement nor modern marketing techniques could possibly enhance the power of God’s word and sacraments.  And indeed, no improvement need be made on them, for this is the treasure of the church.  And it was perfect in its giving, and it is perfect in its using.  

Some who have received this great treasure, our text says, have despised the one who gave it.  Verse 14.  "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'  "He was made king, however, and returned home. 

This treasure was initially given to the people of Israel.  And let it be known that, while many did indeed believe and continue to believe to this day, that as a whole, the Jews rejected the gift.  The Jews turned their back on the treasure, and walked away from the Christ the treasure intended to bring to them.  They refused to listen. 

In the gospel of John we read these words.  Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,   (this is in reference to the man who had been born blind who Jesus cured) and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."  Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."  Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.  Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."  Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"  Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. 

It is human pride that brings the shades over the eyes, and will not see the very basic understanding that before the law of God we are lost and condemned creatures headed nowhere except death, the grave, and to hell.  And therefore, we are in need of the precious treasure which the church has received, and the word of life that it brings. 

Lest we forgot, and point only our fingers at the Jews, let us remember that anyone who despises the word of God and of the sacraments of God in Christ, are fully in league with all who reject them, and will not listen to them.  We receive this treasure from His word, from the Holy Bible, but many reject that word.  Indeed, oftentimes when that word is proclaimed by faithful pastors rightly and properly and in accord with that word, it is rejected.  And so it is.   

In Luke chapter 10 we read these words of our Lord.  "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."  God graciously opens the ears of those who will not be obstructions, and graciously gives the word of light and life and grace and salvation in Christ.  But it is always within the will of man, in his fallen estate, in which we have, (I don’t want to call it an opportunity, indeed, it is a trap), to reject that which God offers.  God does not armtwist anyone into heaven.   

But to reject the means of grace is to reject God Himself.  Luther writes on this very subject.  He writes, “Ingratitude for the word has always be the greatest abomination.  Nor is this surprising, for this ingratitude is the greatest offense also to pious people.  And God takes the same view of the matter.” 

Dear friends, to disregard the word and the sacraments is to bury the treasure without regard to its value.  And to disclaim the treasure entirely.  It is to bury the grace of God, His life, suffering, death, and resurrection.  It is to bury the salvation of God, through His son.  It is to bury the righteous life of Jesus Christ.  It is to bury what Christ accomplishes on the cross. It is to bury what His suffering has done to forgive our sins.  It is to bury the fact that He laid in a tomb as our substitute so that the grave could not claim us.  And it is to bury His resurrection from the dead in which we have hope in life after this life is over. 

God graciously blesses the right use of His treasure.   

Please notice that, when the time of reckoning comes for these servants, it is these slaves who come and they make absolutely no claim on the part of themselves for the increase.  Listen carefully to the words.  "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'   "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied.   'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'   "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'  His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.' 

The credit is given to the treasure itself, not to the servant who was privileged to be the conduit of that treasure.  It is the means of grace themselves, the word and the sacraments connected to that word which produces the results on behalf of the king.  

Likewise, we are nothing but poor servants.  Just for the records, in the old king James version, the word servant is rightly translated “slave”.  For it is the same word.  And so, we find that indeed we are slaves to the king, and we are privileged, did you hear that?  We are privileged, we are honored, to be the conduits of God’s means of grace.  And it is this which is the undying honor which we hold and share.  It is the power of God working through that means of God, and not the power of those who share them. 

Dear friends, the only questions that remain are whether or not we will be obstructions, either to the receiving of that word and sacrament, or whether or not we will be obstructions for God’s use of them through us.   

Any time somebody thanks us for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our only response must be, “Behold what the Lord has done!  See the power of His Word!” 

And then there is the matter of the rewards.  Ten cities!  Five cities!  Astounding rewards!  Let me say that this is not a measure of our good works, but yet again, as is always the case with God, a measure of His grace.  Are there rewards in heaven, according to the scriptures?  Of course there are!   In fact, this very passage points it out with some clarity.  The first servant is granted ten cities, who wouldn’t want that?  That’s better then being a millionaire, is it not?   

What is being stressed?  Simply this.  He is using this language to express the highest degree of glory for faithful people in heaven.  Not all of us are placed in precisely the same way throughout our lives.  We remember the great leaders of Scripture.  Moses was placed in a very special position, and was able to accomplish, by God’s grace, great things on behalf of the kingdom of God.  We could go through the whole list of those who served God well, Old Testament and New, ending in the Old Testament fashion with John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, in his lifetime when  Christ finally came.   

Are you all placed in that position?  Probably not.  However, each of us is able, by God’s grace and strength, to do the things of God in the station, and in the vocation, which God has graciously given us.  Every single one of us has a divine stage on which to play our lives for the glory of God and the extension of His kingdom, whether you be a real estate salesman, a car mechanic, an insurance salesman of some kind, a retired person, whatever the station is, the vocation God has given you, it is sacred!  And it is the very place God has given you to use the treasure He has provided. 

I would suggest that God is describing, with this first servant, the unimaginable joys and glory of heaven in a way that we might possibly be able to comprehend it, while knowing that we will never be able to fully understand it this side of heaven. 

The second servant, however, I would suggest to you, presents us with the greatest comfort.  For this servant is one who does not bring the fullest return from the treasure which has been given him.  And yet, he too is blessed.  This servant I can identify with.  This servant is the one who strives but doesn’t always accomplish what some other servants of God manage to do.  And yet, God’s grace is provided, and His blessing is given.   

Do not miss the point of this parable. Please understand that the central point here is that, on the day of His coming, the king will elevate His people to reign with Him!  Did you hear that?  Christ will sit on the judgment throne and at His word, all who bear His name will reign in the kingdom of God with Him.  Have you doubts?  Listen to the word of God.  Second Timothy chapter 4.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 

And from Revelation chapter two verse 10.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.   

A crown is the symbol of a king.  The crown of life is God’s gracious invitation to reign with Him forever in heaven.  Certainly not as equals, but reign nonetheless.  Only when we get there will we know what it means in full. 

Then there is the last servant.  This unfaithful slave, with his own words, reveals his attitude toward God.  Listen again to the words in verses 20 and 21.  '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.' 

This man’s relationship with God never recognizes the treasure he received. He does not see the value of it, and he does not see it is his privilege to do business with it in the world.  His relationship to the king is based on nothing but fear and loathing.   

One of my favorite commentators, R.C.H. Lenski, writes of this man, and put these words into his mouth.  “‘There is your money!’, he says to the Lord.  He never had any use for it now and he has no use for it in the days to come.  He despises this Lord, and was sorry for himself because he was the slave to such a Lord.” 

I would suggest to you that anyone who disregards the word and sacraments of Christ, or insists on his own interpretation of them, or despises them entirely by failure to hear that word preached and taught, is precisely like this wicked servant.  Indeed, it is not insignificant that his mina is wrapped in a cloth.  In the Greek, it would have been a little bit more interesting!  It is a handkerchief, what was known as a sweatcloth, for wiping sweat from the worker’s brow.  And instead of being wet with the perspiration of the faithful servant, it is dry and useless, as is his faith, or lack thereof. 

You see, finally justice and mercy are combined in this judgment God brings to His servants.  For everyone who uses this treasure, the means of grace, rightly, more shall be graciously given.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this in the ministry God has entrusted to me.  Where people will suddenly find out that there is real meat and potatoes in the word of God, real meaning in life, and they begin to study.  And the more they study, the more the hunger for the study increases.  And the more that increases, the more I find that those who are engaged in the continual study of God, also serve Him, for they are impelled to do so by the power of His word.  

And those who come to the sacraments receive there not only the forgiveness of sins, but the very grace to serve Him with a God-pleasing life.  And the more they come, the more they serve, and the more they want to.   

That’s the way it works.   

But, he who refused the word and sacraments, or holds them as unimportant or subject to their own interpretation, shall lose the very word, the treasure itself.  And then the treasure will be given to those who hunger. 

Do not hold lightly those terrifying last words of this text.  They are directed at the rebellious, rebellious servants of the king.  Hear them one more painful time.   He replied, “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.'" 

Now, I will tell you that interpreters of scripture who want to explain this little passage away, saying it’s really quite out of character for Christ.  I would suggest nothing of the kind.  For on the day of His return there will be a separation of the sheep from the goats, the believers from the unbelievers.  And judgment will be issued.  And we have seen a preview or two of that.  Perhaps you’ll recall the flood in the days of Noah. And recall that in justice God judges rightly. 

Perhaps you will recall that, with the case of the Jews, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies in 70 AD in such fashion that it was only able to rise again from those ashes by UN resolution in 1947.  The day of judgment will make that look like small potatoes. 

I do not say this to scare you, for I cannot scare you into the kingdom of God, nor do I wish to.  But rather only to serve as the warning that it is.  To take the treasure that has been graciously been given you, to treasure it in your own heart, for the very thing that it is, the very word of God in all its truth and purity.  To come to the sacrament of God’s body and blood, and there receive exactly what Christ says you receive.  “Take. Eat. This is my body.  Take. Drink.  This is my blood.”   

The king is coming.  It is time to raise our heads in joy, to bring back to the Lord the faithful blessing that He has worked through his means of grace in us, and in the hearts of others.  Hear his word.  Receive his sacraments.  And serve him with joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.