“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.  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.  The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.  So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.  But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”

Matthew 24:14 – 18

I am trying to figure out the core meaning of this parable of Jesus.  If I am not mistaken, I see it in the statement of the servant who received but one bag of gold.  He thought he was doing what his master wished.  He just hid it to preserve it, taking no risk at all.  This, I do believe, was the point Jesus is making, make sure you know the mind of Christ, your Lord and Master.

Hear what this man thought of his master.   “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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’” Matthew 24:24, 25

As I see it, this servant misread the mind and heart of his master.  He saw his master as a “hard man” and a person who wanted to harvest what he did not sew.  So, by hiding the bag it looks to me like he was trying to put his master straight!  By misreading the motivation and ways of his master, he found himself in great trouble.  He had no right to judge his master!

Today is the middle of the Passion Week.  I hear Jesus tell this story. I find myself wanting to be a faithful servant who knows what compels his master to do what he does.  I want to know the mind of Christ, lest I do what displeases him.  After all, the bag of gold is not mine, even though I am making decisions about its use, it is his!  May this truth sink deep into my soul today and always.  My life’s desire is to be a faithful disciple of my loving, forgiving, empowering Lord Jesus.