At Least Earn Some Interest!!
Psalm 37:34-40
34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.[a]
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future[b] for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Exodus 27:1-28:14
The Priestly Garments
1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
The Ephod
6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings 12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. 13 Make gold filigree settings 14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.
See this link for a good picture of the ephod worn by the priest. http://www.irishislez.com/c-kohen-garments.jpg
Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Reflections: The one thing in common with our Old and New Testament readings for today is using gold for God’s purposes. In Exodus, the priest were given ephods to wear with gold chains, waistbands and filigree as they ministered on behalf of the people in the tabernacle. The gold didn’t reflect their greatness but the greatness of what they were doing, leading people into God’s presence in the manner He had prescribed. The priest was called to be faithful to administer the means of grace, which in the Old Testament was prescribed by the covenant God had made with His people and the ways in which they were to worship him and treat each other.
In the parable of the bags of gold (typically rendered parable of talents – a talent was worth 20 years worth of a day laborer’s wage, which would be about 1 million dollars in today’s equivalent!) where entrusted to a man’s servants. One was given five, another two and another one, one bag; reflective of their abilities. The first two servants went to work and doubled the amount given to them. The last servant using the logic that his master would reap where he had not sown, in fear hid his one bag of gold in the ground. When the master came back he scolded this servant and told him that he at least should have earned interest on the money given to him. (i.e. put it in a money market account, not doubling perhaps but at least returning more than the original value!) This bag of gold was taken from him and given to the man who doubled the master’s money.
What can learn from this? We all have different talents and abilities. God recognizes this and doesn’t judge us on another’s person capacity. What God does have a problem with, is us sitting on the gifts we have been given with the rationale, “Well God is going to do what He will do anyways, so why does it matter what I do.”
Just as the priest was entrusted with the golden ephod to minister before the Lord, we are given all of God’s riches in Christ and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As we employ whatever gift we have been given in His power and authority, the fruit we will bear will be fruit that lasts. This is what God has called us for to bear fruit that will last through Him who gives us strength.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7
Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
Forgive us for our pride, dear Lord, and for thinking so highly of ourselves that we miss the essence of your grace. Restore us and lead us into deeper faithfulness and righteousness so others will get a glimpse of you in us. Amen.
34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.[a]
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future[b] for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Exodus 27:1-28:14
The Priestly Garments
1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
The Ephod
6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings 12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. 13 Make gold filigree settings 14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.
See this link for a good picture of the ephod worn by the priest. http://www.irishislez.com/c-kohen-garments.jpg
Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Reflections: The one thing in common with our Old and New Testament readings for today is using gold for God’s purposes. In Exodus, the priest were given ephods to wear with gold chains, waistbands and filigree as they ministered on behalf of the people in the tabernacle. The gold didn’t reflect their greatness but the greatness of what they were doing, leading people into God’s presence in the manner He had prescribed. The priest was called to be faithful to administer the means of grace, which in the Old Testament was prescribed by the covenant God had made with His people and the ways in which they were to worship him and treat each other.
In the parable of the bags of gold (typically rendered parable of talents – a talent was worth 20 years worth of a day laborer’s wage, which would be about 1 million dollars in today’s equivalent!) where entrusted to a man’s servants. One was given five, another two and another one, one bag; reflective of their abilities. The first two servants went to work and doubled the amount given to them. The last servant using the logic that his master would reap where he had not sown, in fear hid his one bag of gold in the ground. When the master came back he scolded this servant and told him that he at least should have earned interest on the money given to him. (i.e. put it in a money market account, not doubling perhaps but at least returning more than the original value!) This bag of gold was taken from him and given to the man who doubled the master’s money.
What can learn from this? We all have different talents and abilities. God recognizes this and doesn’t judge us on another’s person capacity. What God does have a problem with, is us sitting on the gifts we have been given with the rationale, “Well God is going to do what He will do anyways, so why does it matter what I do.”
Just as the priest was entrusted with the golden ephod to minister before the Lord, we are given all of God’s riches in Christ and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As we employ whatever gift we have been given in His power and authority, the fruit we will bear will be fruit that lasts. This is what God has called us for to bear fruit that will last through Him who gives us strength.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7
Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
Forgive us for our pride, dear Lord, and for thinking so highly of ourselves that we miss the essence of your grace. Restore us and lead us into deeper faithfulness and righteousness so others will get a glimpse of you in us. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment