Being Profitable to God
Luke 19:11-27
In this lesson we are going to look at the parable that Jesus gave concerning the 10 pounds. While it is true that the doctrinal application of this parable is tribulation and 2nd Advent there are some spiritual applications that we will make for us today in the church age.
First of all let us look at some spiritual types in the parable. Remember types are great ways to teach the word of God but we cannot stretch them too far.
The certain nobleman – He is obviously a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The servants given the pounds – we will use them as types of saved people in the church age for this lesson.
The citizens – these will be types of people on earth who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
What were the Servants given?
Each servant was given a pound and told to occupy until the noble man returned (“occupy till I come”). The spiritual application for us here is that every Christians is given the faith as a part of Salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). This faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Therefore in regards to salvation this faith is the same for everyone, just like in the parable everyone started with the same money, one pound.
The difference was that when the nobleman returned the servants had done differently with the money they had received. Now the same can be said for saved people everyone is given the same amount of faith when they are saved, but depending on how much we read and study the word of God or put trust and God by doing what he says your faith will grow after salvation. Some saved people have a lot of faith and other less faith. But remember the key here as with the servants is to be profitable unto God.
The servants were told to “occupy till I come”. To occupy means to take possession of something that formerly did not belong to you. It could be taken by force or as in this case given to you by someone. This reminds us of stewardship. I stewardship you are given charge over something that belongs to someone else and entrusted with its safe keeping, and according to
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 the key thing in stewardship is faithfulness.
When it comes to abilities, talents, opportunities etc. that God gives an individual those things will differ, but the key to using whatever God gives you and making it profitable unto the Lord will be faithfulness plain and simple. Remember in Hebrews 11:6 faith is required to please God, and also those that come to him must believe he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How were the servants judged?
The servants were judged on whether or not they were profitable unto God. Now in making a spiritual application for us from this we are going to have a little trouble because we are judged on the motive of our works and not the quantity of our works at the Judgment Seat of Christ
(1 Corinthians 3:9-16).
If we faithfully do the things that God shows us in his word to do and we do them for the proper motive then they will be profitable unto God whether we see the profit here or not. Remember there is much labor and service for the Lord done and yet we never see the results, but one day we will see them at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
So ask yourself I am I doing anything that could one day be profitable unto God? Only you can answer that honestly.
Being Profitable to God : Handout
Luke 19:11-27
1) What is the doctrinal application for this parable?
2) How are we going to apply this parable to us?
3) What are the spiritual types found in this parable?
4) What was each servant given and what were they told to do with it?
5) How can we spiritually apply this to us?
6) How were the servants judged?
7) How can we spiritually apply this to us?