"As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.' But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.' When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.' And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.' Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'""
Luke 19:11-24, 26-27 ESV
I realize this is a large passage of Scripture above, but it's hard to just pick a small portion out when the whole story needs to be told.
My Journible asks the question, "(11-27) What does this parable reveal about God and His kingdom?" Here is my answer straight from my Journible:
"God expects His people to use what He has given them to increase His kingdom. Those who do well are given more responsibilities and those who do nothing with the resources He has given will have even that taken from them. God expects His people to be useful for Him and not just sitting on their hands doing nothing.
It also shows there will be a judgment day for those who reject God's reign in their lives. They will be put to death.
This is really a surprising picture of God. People want to paint Him as all-loving, all benevolent, saving everybody, a doting, spoiling Heavenly Father. That is not the picture I see here.
But at the same time, we must balance this picture with John 10, the tenderness of the Good Shepherd.
God is both a God of justice and a God of love. It depends on which side of the fence you are on in relation to Jesus Christ, whether you will have the weight of His justice come down on you or the tenderness of His love on judgement day."
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