(May 16, 2010) A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang

<A Way to Receive Blessings> (5)

Last Sunday I shared with you some basic New Testament understandings of offering: It is not only 10 percent (tithe) as the Old Testament’s requirement, but 100 percent offering. It is because whatsoever we have including our own life all belongs to God. We are all stewards of God. Therefore, we do not have the ownership, but have stewardship. We only have the temporary right to use whatever given to us, which includes our life, health, time, money, talents, skills, power, authority, and etc… But when the time comes, we finish the earthly works; we will stand before our Creator to settle our accounts with Him. Our Lord who told us two identical parables in Matthew 25: 14-30 and Luke 19: 11-27 about the future judgment that we will face:

The first one in Matthew account is like this: One master before going on a journey, he entrusted his property to his servants. One got 5 talents of money, another one got 2 talents, and another one got 1 talent. The first two servants worked well to gain double of what they have received. But the last one just buried what he got under the ground. After a long time, the master came back and he wanted to settle with his servants. The first two got honored and received the same rewards. But the last one who was rebuked as a “wicked and lazy servant.” His only 1 talent was taken away and gave to the one who had 10; he was also thrown out to the outside into the darkness for eternal sorrowfulness.

Several points we may find: First, We are all like the servants given different talents. The more talents we receive the more expectation will be given to us; Second, The issue is not how much we receive, but how do we do with it? Are we faithful? Third, the selfish and lazy one will be judged; Fourth, Whatsoever we have is only a temporary entrusted gift to us. When the time comes, we need to return to the real owner – our Lord; Finally, There is no any excuse good enough to help us to avoid the judgment of God.

The second parable at the Gospel of Luke is like this: A noble and royal man before going away to receive his kingdom as a new king, he called 10 of his servants and he gave each one of them one mina to work (*A mina was about three months’ wages.) During this period, some of this royal man’s subjects hated him and tried to disturb him from getting his kingship. Finally, the newly installed king returned, he wanted to find out the works of his servants. The first one who showed that he earned 10 time more, and was honored by the king and received a reward of taking charge of 10 cities; the second servant earned 5 more minas and received the same honor as the first one and received a reward of taking charge of 5 cities. But the last one who just covered his one mina in a piece of cloth was rebuked by his master. Also, his only minus was taken away to the one who had 10.

Several points we need to meditate: First of all, all of us are given the same grace of salvation as the servants who all received the same amount of one mina. And we all need to work based on the same foundation of salvation to do our best in order to honor our God. When we do so, we will be honored. The one who covers his grace without doing anything is just like the lazy servant who hided his mina in a piece of cloth, eventually will be rebuked and feel shameful. Those who hate Jesus to be their King eventually will be judged and wiped out because they all belong to the group of Satan.

Dear brothers and sisters: we need to work hard because we are members of the Kingdom. We are servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever we go, no matter we are home or at our working places, or at church, everywhere is our working place. Please remember: We should not only offer 10 percents but 100 percents.