Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear people.
I probably should modify my morning routine to accommodate the weather and get on with the outdoor work (like sawmill work) early before it gets hot—then fit the other stuff in later.
We’re down to two kittens now—and it’s now apparent that Hondo was the culprit in the disappearance of the second kitten. How do I know? I was able to rescue the third from the same fate.
A full weekend is coming up. In fact, the rest of the summer is looking full. And today is full. I had better start emptying its fullness. Blessings on your day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
This “Parable of the Ten Minas” is highly significant. I can’t avoid some basic conclusions--principles that every human being with a functional mind is required to comply with. Firstly, it must be recognized that HE IS THE SOVEREIGN KING—He is the Maker Owner of everything with full rights to set the rules and assign responsibilities. Secondly, EVERY HUMAN BEING (with a sound functional mind) IS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT HIS LIFE AS A SUBJECT/SERVANT TO THE SOVEREIGN KING—or face being on His wrong side. Those two simple truths provide huge support for Jesus’ exhortation to “SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Matthew 6:33).
To illustrate the negative consequences of being on His wrong side, Jesus finishes off this story with a scary ominous closing: “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” (v. 27). Yikes! That doesn’t sound very loving and gracious! No matter how we slice our interpretation, that Biblical fact must be held in view—HE IS LOVING AND GRACIOUS. Thankfully, we don’t have to look far to find evidence of Jesus’ grace and concern for the lost. In this same chapter, listen to His words after being condemned for spending some time with Zacchaeus—one of the most repulsive members of normal Jewish society. He affirmed that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (19:10. Here’s the LOST AND FOUND theme again.). Also in this same chapter we see Jesus weeping over predominantly unrepentant Jerusalem (19:41-44). Couple this with the theme of 2 Peter 3:9 that says, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Then there’s that familiar passage in John 3:16-21. Read it again. If we take it all in, it sure doesn’t add up to the conclusion that God is vengeful and gloating over the destruction of the lost. In fact, if you pay careful attention to the King as He utters these harsh-sounding words in verse 27, I think you will discern a broken heart—and virtual tears in His eyes.
May I again mention a central theme that, for me, keeps cropping up all through Biblical revelation: the essential need for A HEART AFTER GOD. For whatever reason, Zacchaeus came to embrace A HEART AFTER GOD. For whatever reason the people being punished in the story Jesus told did not have A HEART AFTER GOD—they rejected the whole idea. If there are only two ultimate kingdoms, to truly reject one is to get the other. There seems to be no neutral zone. And if the ultimate outcomes of the two kingdoms form a drastic contrast between LIFE and DEATH—well, there you have it!
Please allow me to incorporate that spin into verse 26: “I tell you that to everyone who has A HEART AFTER GOD, more (incredibly more) will be given, but as for the one who does not have A HEART AFTER GOD, (especially when it is so reasonable and readily available) even what he has will be taken away.”