30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
LUKE 19 11-27 TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 21 Diligence
📖 Luke 19:11-27
29Dec2020 - *Diligence* - _Luke 19:11-27_ - TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 21 – Bible reading: _Hebrews 6:11-12_
The Lord was angry and called the third servant as wicked because he was trying to hide behind his pretentious words. This conceited behaviour came from a root problem of laziness.
_Luke 19:20-21 “Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. (21) For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'_
Mat 25:26-27 “But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. (27) So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
Let us go over our purpose statement before we consider the anger of the Master towards the third servant.
_We are citizens of the kingdom of God here on earth, redeemed and reconciled back to God, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This world is being driven by the evil one, through man, who has become his prisoner._
_We, citizens of the kingdom of God, live and work, fulfilling all the elements of the creation or cultural mandate, in the image of God, which is to give of Himself, with all diligence. We use the capital that God has invested us with, in the enablement and wisdom of the Holy Spirit._
_The kingdom of God has already begun, which will come into its full effect when the Messiah returns. As we prayerfully await His return, we reach out to an audience that is rejecting God but with boldness and love._
_In the eternal kingdom of Jesus, we will continue with the theme of having dominion, which was our theme here on earth. We will be assigned roles and responsibilities, depending upon the results that we produced here on earth, with the capital that God has invested in each of us._
The book of proverbs alone has several verses and passages that speak strongly against laziness and being a sluggard. I encourage you to search the book of Proverbs on this matter of slothfulness and you will see the seriousness of this issue.
_Proverbs 18:9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer._ Being slothful causes destruction. We know that this life of laziness causes huge devastation.
_Ezekiel 16:49-50 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, *and abundance of idleness*; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (50) And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit._
_Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; (31) And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down. (32) When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: (33) A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; (34) So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man._
Diligence has to be our precious possession, which is opposite to being lethargic. _Proverbs 12:27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But *diligence is man's precious possession*._
The Lord desires that we be diligent in serving Him. _Romans 12:11 *not lagging in diligence*, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;_
_Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one of you *show the same diligence* to the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We need to set the example and encourage one another through our diligence on how we must serve the Lord.
The fundamental problem of the third servant was laziness, which led to him becoming wicked.
*Thought to ponder*
```The church must set the standard to the world on being diligent kingdom workers.```