Matthew 25:14-30
The joy of God, into which he invites us, derives from productivity and fruitfulness. He is forever fruitful and productive—Jesus said ‘my Father is ever working, and I too am working.’ (He said that just after restoring wholeness to a man crippled for 38 years). The work in which he is engaged is the work of a new creation and the transformation of individuals—whoever and wherever they permit him to work! In the fruit of transformation of a person from one form to another he derives immense joy. When he is permitted to bring us from ugliness to beauty of heart; from need to control to submission to his working; from fear to faith; anxiety to peace; from emptiness to fullness! Growth out of narcissism and self-consciousness to God-centred-ness and other-centred-ness; from need to control to contentment in allowing him to control; from the world’s idea of love to his.
The joy of God derives from seeing that which he created, flourish! It is as we learn to co-operate with him in his plans that we too, flourish and grow. We are thereby entering into our Master’s joy! The Master’s chief joy is in seeing you become all he created you to become.
Jesus’ Kingdom similes describe life and conditions in that Kingdom. You’ll note that they describe expansion, growth, multiplication, permeation, diffusion, effectiveness; small things becoming great, and largesse—and descriptions of how his economy works (e.g., see Matt. 20:1-16).
It was in experiencing the satisfaction of successful yield from what had been entrusted, that the servants in the above Kingdom simile were actually entering their master’s joy—of a kind they’d not experienced before. They were entering into their master’s enjoyment; they became participators! As a result, to them was given an even greater trust.
Kingdom expectation: The expectation of the king and the Kingdom is that the servants will be entering into his joy in everything that the Kingdom produces as it arrives—change and growth. The joy is to be entered into (by faith) as we co-operate and function with him as Kingdom stewards. That growth or expansion will be occurring in us and in all that we touch. Growth in grace, faith, truth, prayer, giving and given-ness, spiritual wisdom and understanding and all the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We are to be coming ‘to the fullness of the stature of Christ’ (Eph. 4:13). The joy is embedded in that co-operation that is bearing fruit. The master entrusted, each according to ability. His expectation is not beyond what he has made us fit for and gifted us for. It is the nature of the Kingdom of God to expand, to grow, to work like leaven etc. These are the joy-bringing activities. Ours is joy-bringing participation!
Kingdom activity: is simply to be going (not striving)—in confident cooperation with the Master, in the joy of expectant stewardship. The servants, it says, ‘went’. Two went and used the trust with confidence that they’d not been entrusted with something beyond ability. We are to be going; into each day, each activity, each issue, each problem, knowing that the heart of our Master is simply for us to be walking in co-operation with him. And in each circumstance to be investing our joined life, being one with his desire. We are sent—into life as it (and however it) unfolds.
Kingdom reward: you’ll note that the nature of the Kingdom of God is reciprocity and exponential: give and it shall be given to you; the measure you give will be the measure received; forgive and you’ll be forgiven; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened. A lad gave up a meagre lunch and it fed 5000 and then came back in 12 basketfuls. The Kingdom of God is reciprocal and exponential. Peter grudgingly re-launched a boat and cast a net after a night of fruitless toil and…a harvest of fish! (Luke 5:4-6 NKJV. By the way, Jesus said, ‘let down your nets’ and Peter let down a net with resulting embarrassment!). In our simile, Jesus said ‘to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance (Matt. 25;29). In the Kingdom, obedience unlocks reciprocity and exponential. That is the nature of this Kingdom to which we belong!
The Kingdom tragedy: is that it can be missed; misunderstood or misinterpreted. One servant was not of one heart with his Master. He entirely misrepresented his Master’s heart and how simple the requirement was. Notice the difference. They all three, went and did something; but two went in faith and one went in fear. He said, ‘I was afraid.’ He read his master as harsh and unreasonable (the master who had entrusted things to them—and only according to their ability!). There arpe Christians who think that God will expect unfair things of them; that he is harsh and heartless. They miss the truth that his great yearning is to bring them in on his joy. The joy of largesse and fruit-bearing. In fear they hide what’s been entrusted and hope he’ll be pleased that they didn’t mess up! That’s religion, not Kingdom life!
His invitation is for us to enter into the joy he is having at this moment in his great work. It’s on-going today, all around. It’s available in all that you put your hand to, all that I put my hand to, today! Count me in, Lord!
Ian Heard: January 14, 2018