This ancient story is from one of the wisest teachers to walk the earth, his name is Jesus. This article is an invitation to embrace the Kingdom culture. This story shows the keys of breakthrough, upgrade and permission. So let’s honor Jesus’ words here and receive the fruit from  Luke 16.

He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.  So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.  I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

These servants all had a job, their boss stunk to say the least, this much isn’t uncommon. This boss (Master) was getting promoted to king, despite the public complaint against him. This guy didn’t seem to deserve such promotion. However he was King. Now before he left he had given the servants the job of increasing his funds. Each one does something different with this task. Let’s start with the one increased the money by ten. This servant received charge of ten cities for increasing ten minas. This is probably one of the most dramatic promotions I have ever heard of in a story. This man was working with coins, mere dollars, and he got promoted to govern cities. Why?  A couple notable things here, one, he hated his boss, I imagine his job wasn’t his favorite either but, he didn’t let his circumstance dictate his decisions. He knew he could increase the funds, and he used his ability to help a man he wasn’t in favor of and it became the doorway to his future. What’s the lesson from this? HELP OTHERS! Help others, by using your gifts to benefit those around you. Your current situations are training grounds for your future. We also need to know we have been given permission as God’s children [Romans 8] to be incredibly grateful in every situation with our work and family. We have permission to be full of wisdom, strategy and knowledge on wealth, relationships, and the kingdom of heaven in all that we express. Let’s embrace the reality that we have been given authority to become a blessing to the hardest of hearts. Knowing our permission connects us to our promotions. Frustration is simply an invitation to move about the Kingdom aka explore your resources (Christ Within You!!!). [Read Colossians 1:27].

Now what can we glean from the servant who hid the money. This servant like the other servants hated his boss. The difference here is, he agreed with his circumstance, had no value for helping others, and had no grid for his future. He even went as far as hiding the money and trying to damage his boss, simply because his boss was unjust. Sounds like this servant couldn’t see past himself/herself. Lesson? When your eyes are self focused you have no grid for the Kingdom. The Kingdom is advanced through violence, and the violent take it by force…Is that not an invitation to grab hold of something in heaven in the midst of every circumstance?!

The two servants who invested and honored their master in this case got huge promotions, they were focused on increase, they knew how to do their job and they did it. Our invitation today is to ask Holy Spirit what the future is for ourselves and those around you? Perspective will greatly affect our decisions in the middle ground. Embracing the future might mean we are up for a change in our job situation, but let’s make sure we aren’t damaging the door to our destinies by dishonoring what we have today.

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