Particularly in America, we don’t really think about royalty all that much. It’s part of what makes understanding “the kingdom of God” so difficult for us. Americans don’t do kings. We elect our leaders from among ourselves. The very idea that someone or something could rule our lives without our choice is hard for us to understand.
That was not the case when Jesus was walking the earth. There were rulers who exerted enormous authority and who chose those who could rule smaller areas on their behalf. Around forty years before Jesus was born, Herod the Great traveled to Rome to gain an appointment as king over Judea. He got the job. Herod ruled for over forty years, but his heirs would not automatically gain his throne. They had to get that appointment from Rome as well.
Herod’s son Archelaus took the same journey to argue that he should take over as king, not his half brother, Antipas. He was banished for his efforts, although eventually Rome divided the region between Antipas, Archelaus, and Philip. A few decades later, Jesus told the parable we heard today. His audience would very much have known the story of Archelaus and understood the background of this parable, which begins, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return.”
It also explains that odd-to-us detail that a delegation also went there to advocate against this appointment. In Jesus’ story, they “hated him” and didn’t want him to be their king. Clearly, they were unsuccessful because he comes home with the authority to be king. Still, it’s a divided people.
It’s also a society that is waiting for what comes next. While they wait, the would-be king leaves ten of his servants with money — four months’ wages, in fact — and he instructs them to “do business” with these funds until he returns.
To understand what is at stake in this parable, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of these servants. This man hopes to be king, but it is not guaranteed. It is obvious that there is strong opposition to his appointment.
To spend this in-between time actively promoting the business of this man is hugely risky. If he is not appointed, they are on the losing side. In their world that could mean the loss of their livelihoods; it might even cost them their lives. This nobleman wants to know whether they are willing to take the risk to live openly as his servants in a time when others oppose his rule.
So, while this man is away, some of them get to work. The first to report on his business reveals profits of 1000%. This servant stuck his neck out by doing this business, and in proving his faithfulness, his reward is not riches but greater responsibility. He will oversee ten cities in this kingdom. The second has also done well — profits of 500%. Again, he is rewarded with responsibility. He will oversee five cities.
But then a third servant comes forward. He’s hedged his bets. He knows his master might be king, but he also knows he might not be. If he’s not king, at least this servant has a nest egg to start fresh. Trembling, he comes forward with what he was given, fully intact but without having done what he was supposed to do — conduct business and so publicly declare himself on the side of the now king. The servant perceives the king as a “hard man” and even basically calls him a thief (“you withdraw what you haven’t deposited”).
Our perceptions shape our reality, and they can be wrong. In this parable, the faithful servants understood the true nature of the master, but it’s the unfaithful one who misunderstands him. “The servant’s unfaithfulness presents a twisted vision of the master.”
This servant has failed to act in faith while he was waiting for the king’s return. He buried his talents, hid his allegiance, and he has failed his master who is now king. What does the king do? He takes away what he had given the servant and — much to our surprise — he gives it to the one who returned 1000% in the first place. How unfair! Right?
Wrong.
Like we Americans have to wrap our heads around a world with kings, we also have to understand a world that is not run by capitalism. This parable is not about profits. It’s about faithfulness. These servants are working on behalf of the king. They did not keep the funds; those were the king’s property. But they were rewarded with responsibility. The one who did best gained more responsibility. What boss wouldn’t give a promotion to her best employee when one is available?
Let’s wrap up by considering what this story has to do with us. Jesus told them this parable as he was approaching Jerusalem, where he knew he would be crucified. As you read this week you might have noticed that the very next story is Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. It’s the story we tell on Palm Sunday. It’s also a story that reveals a divided response to the true king entering Jerusalem.
He’s been talking about God’s kingdom, and those following him are ready to see that kingdom right away. This is a parable about faithful action taken while people are awaiting the return of Jesus to rule in all his fullness.
In this parable, the nobleman who goes away to be crowned king is Jesus. Our time is the time where those serving Jesus are awaiting his crowning and return to us. So, we are the servants, which really puts the ball in our court.
What are we doing with our lives? Is our faith being put in action? Will Jesus find us faithful upon his return? In this time, we are being asked to stake our lives on Jesus and to live a way that is faithful, even if it feels risky. It’s as though Jesus is asking each of us, are you willing to risk for me?
What do we do while we wait for God’s kingdom to arrive? We serve Jesus by living faithfully for him. We live open-heartedly with everyone. We live open-handedly with our neighbors, especially those in need. We live open-mindedly to new and creative ways to be disciples. We believe Jesus, and so our lives become more like his.
Let me close with this. “A British journalist once asked Mother Teresa how she kept going, knowing that she could never meet the needs of all the dying in the streets of Calcutta. She replied, ‘I am not called to be successful; I’m called to be faithful.’” May we serve Jesus in such a manner, like the many saints of the church before us, all while we wait for the return of our King Jesus.
