Gospel of the Kingdom
by Ivan Ho 21 July 2022
Parable of Talents
Thank God for all the services of people, some of whom being followers of Christ, who use their God given giftings to serve fellow men. In the parable of the talents, Jesus speaks about trading our talents with others instead of hiding them. Some interpret this as investing our money and making more of what we have, but Jesus talks about trade, or exchange of our God given talents with others. In other words, I give you what I have and you give me what I don’t have so that we are both blessed. This is how we multiply our God given talents.
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord’s money.
After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:14-30 KJV
Without the services of pilots, engineers, air hostesses, ground staff and so on, we cannot fly. Unfortunately, the pandemakers deny people the opportunity and the need to fly and with it the services of so many people in the airline industry have been denied. Not just in airlines, the services of so many people in other sectors have been denied. Man cannot live when people are not allowed to trade their services and unique giftings with others.
Gospel of the Kingdom
When it comes to gospel of the Kingdom, this is what Jesus says: “The gospel of the kingdom must be PREACHED to the whole world and then the end will come” . The gospel of Christ must be preached and preaching involves speaking or sharing the word of God. While the parable of talents involves exchange of essential goods and services, the gospel of the kingdom involves preaching, and preaching isn’t done only in the pulpits on Sundays. The kingdom of God is not confined in the pews within the four walls of churches.
If we reduce the Gospel of the Kingdom to the expansion of our little kingdoms, how we become successful in our domains or how we showcase our talents, we misrepresent the gospel. What the world needs most now is Christ not just our talents.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:14 KJV