While Jesus was with his four apostles on the mount of olives, Jesus tells them another illustration. The illustration was part of the answer to the question about his presence and the conclusion of the system of things. In the illustration Jesus talked about a man who was about to travel out of the country who summoned his slaves and entrusted them with his belongings to them. Now take note that Jesus is "the man" he is talking about in his illustration._Luke 19:12.
Before the man in the illustration travels abroad, he commits to his slaves valuable belongings. During the three and half years of his ministry, Jesus focused on preaching the good news of God's kingdom and he trained his his disciples to do his work. Now Jesus is going away, confident that they will carry on doing what he trained them to do._Mathew 10:7.
In the illustration, how does Jesus distribute his belongings? Jesus relates :"he gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to still another, to each according to his own ability and he went abroad. (Matthew 25:15) Now what will these slaves do with what he entrusted to them? Will they be diligent enough in using them in their master's interests? Jesus tells his apostles:
"immediately the one who received five talents from his master went and did business with them and gained five more. Likewise, the second who received two gained an additional two after doing business with it. But what about the last one who received one talent? Do you know what he did? He took the talent or money and dug in the ground and hid his master's money". (Matthew 25:16-18) what will happen when the master returns?
"After a long time", Jesus says, "the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them." (Matthew 25:19)The first two did all the they could and they were able to double what their master gave to them. The first two slaves gave their master all they could gather. The master was happy with them and the commended them saying "well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master"_Mathew 25:21.
It was different, though with the slave who received and hid the one talent h master gave to him. His master was very angry when the slave came to him presenting the same talent he gave to him. His master then called him a "wicked slave" he then ordered his other slaves to toss him out of the house just as you can see in the opening picture.
The lesson of this illustration is very simple. Jesus has entrusted me and you to carry out an important privilege. What's that? It's the preaching work and he expects all of us to be diligent in using this privilege. All fingers are not equal. Jesus does not expects all of us to do the same in carrying out the preaching work that he has charged us to do. Just as illustrated, each should do all that he or she can "according to his own ability". This does not implies that Jesus will be happy if one of us is "sluggish" and fails to do his best in promoting the preaching the preaching work.
In just two sentence Jesus is trying to tell us through his illustration that we should diligently carry out the preaching work that he has assigned us to do. The question you should ask yourself now is that "I'm I diligently carrying out the preaching work?"I leave that question for you to answer at your convinet time. But be rest assured that only those who carry out the preaching work will be rewarded.