Luke 17:7-10 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down to eat? But will he not rather say to him, Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink? DOES HE THANK THAT SERVANT BECAUSE HE DID THE THINGS THAT WERE COMMANDED HIM? I THINK NOT. So LIKEWISE YOU, when you have done all those things WHICH YOU ARE COMMANDED, SAY, WE ARE UNS. WE HAVE DONE WHAT WAS OUR DUTY TO DO. 1
As servants of Elohim, we are EXPECTED to do what is commanded of us, and we are considered unprofitable servants unto Elohim if we do not do more than that. What does this mean for us? Job 22:2-9 CAN A MAN BE PROFITABLE TO GOD, THOUGH HE WHO IS WISE MAY BE PROFITABLE TO HIMSELF? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or IS IT GAIN (PROFITABLE) TO HIM THAT YOU MAKE YOUR WAYS BLAMELESS? IS IT BECAUSE OF YOUR FEAR OF HIM THAT HE CORRECTS YOU, And enters into judgment with you? Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end? FOR YOU HAVE TAKEN PLEDGES FROM YOUR BROTHER FOR NO REASON, AND STRIPPED THE NAKED OF THEIR CLOTHING. YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN THE WEARY WATER TO DRINK, AND YOU HAVE WITHHELD BREAD FROM THE HUNGRY. But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it. YOU HAVE SENT WIDOWS AWAY EMPTY, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE FATHERLESS WAS CRUSHED. What more is expected of us? How can we give increase of what we've been given back to the Father? The parable of the talents gives us more insight as to what it means to be a profitable servant or an unprofitable one. What are we doing with what we've been given? Matthew 25:14-30 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods 2
to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents (profit). And likewise he who had received two gained two more also (profit). BUT HE WHO HAD RECEIVED ONE WENT AND DUG IN THE GROUND, AND HID HIS LORD S MONEY. After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. 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. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he 3
will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And CAST THE UN into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Our Father's treasure is His Word in which He gives to each of us according to our ability. Psalms 119:11 I have treasured up Your word in my heart, That I might not sin against You. As we continue to seek Him diligently He rewards us with more. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. But what are we doing with what we have been given? Are we to simply keep this word in our hearts for selfish gain? No! Keeping His Word is what is expected of us as servants. If we serve Messiah, who bought us with a price, we no longer serve sin, which is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). When we truly become servants unto the Father, it is expected that we DO what He says. It's imperative that we first get a handle of this concept before we can grasp the concept of making increase or profit for our Master. Just as we read in the parable of the talents, we are to keep this Word (talent) by obeying the commands of the Master. 4
We do this out of fear and reverence for our Master, but it is when we receive wisdom and understanding of His Word and begin to apply it in our lives that we increase its proceeds and profit to our Master. This is true treasure. Proverbs 3:13-35 HAPPY IS THE MAN WHO FINDS WISDOM, AND THE MAN WHO GAINS UNDERSTANDING; FOR HER PROCEEDS ARE BETTER THAN THE PROFITS OF SILVER, AND HER GAIN THAN FINE GOLD. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DUE, WHEN IT IS IN THE POWER OF YOUR HAND TO DO SO. DO NOT SAY TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, GO, AND COME BACK, AND TOMORROW I WILL GIVE IT, WHEN YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU. DO NOT DEVISE EVIL AGAINST YOUR 5
NEIGHBOR, FOR HE DWELLS BY YOU FOR SAFETY S SAKE. DO NOT STRIVE WITH A MAN WITHOUT CAUSE, IF HE HAS DONE YOU NO HARM. Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely HE SCORNS THE SCORNFUL, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY, But shame shall be the legacy of fools. When one receives wisdom and understanding of God's word, he/she not only loves and honors the Father and the Son, but loves and honors his/her neighbor as themselves. If we wish to increase profit, we must seek after these things. Romans 3:10-18 As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit ; The poison of asps is under their lips ; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES. There is no fear or reverence of God! This is where wisdom and understanding are born! Without Fear of God there is no 6
wisdom, there is no understanding. Proverbs 9:9-10 Give instruction to A WISE MAN, and he will be still wiser; Teach A JUST MAN, and he will INCREASE in learning. THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING. We must first FEAR our Master, and HEAR Him. When we HEAR Him we must OBEY Him and HUMBLE ourselves to Him and to His Ways. We must swallow our own selfish pride by thinking we know it all, and say, "YOUR WAY, NOT MY OWN," "YOU MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE." Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY with your God? The wise and understanding walk out the Master's commands without hypocrisy, thereby pointing to what is right through our works and glorifying the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). We need not point to the speck in our neighbor's eye, but rather point back to the Father through His Son, which is the Word of God. True wisdom and understanding of God's word is learning how to humbly receive His Word and the love of God in our lives and reflect His Word and His love upon our neighbor; to freely and lovingly give this life giving Word to others just as it was given to us. 7
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 WISDOM IS GOOD with an inheritance, And PROFITABLE to those who see the sun. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, BUT THE EXCELLENCE OF KNOWLEDGE IS THAT WISDOM GIVES LIFE TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT. Messiah told us a parable of a good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). When God's servants, a priest and a Levite, walked away from the dying man, a good Samaritan went to him where he laid dying and gave of what he had so that the man might live. So if we want to increase profit unto the Master while He is away, if we want to hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant," We must fear Him, seek Him, and let Him teach us how to truly love our neighbor. What did Messiah then say immediately after He told the parable of the talents? He told us HOW to increase profit unto the Father, and HOW we might receive praise from Him. Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, COME, YOU BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD; I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU TOOK 8
ME IN; I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME; I WAS SICK AND YOU VISITED ME; I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO ME. THEN THE RIGHTEOUS WILL ANSWER HIM, SAYING, LORD, WHEN DID WE SEE YOU HUNGRY AND FEED YOU, OR THIRSTY AND GIVE YOU DRINK? WHEN DID WE SEE YOU A STRANGER AND TAKE YOU IN, OR NAKED AND CLOTHE YOU? OR WHEN DID WE SEE YOU SICK, OR IN PRISON, AND COME TO YOU? AND THE KING WILL ANSWER AND SAY TO THEM, ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME. Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Let us not be found beating our fellow slaves while our Master is away... Matthew 24:45-51 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due 9
season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."... but let us gain increase for Him by learning from Him how to truly love each other according to His Word. Isaiah 58:6-12 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: TO LOOSE THE BONDS OF WICKEDNESS, TO UNDO THE HEAVY BURDENS, TO LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND THAT YOU BREAK EVERY YOKE? IS IT NOT TO SHARE YOUR BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY, AND THAT YOU BRING TO YOUR HOUSE THE POOR WHO ARE CAST OUT; WHEN YOU SEE THE NAKED, THAT YOU COVER HIM, AND NOT HIDE YOURSELF FROM YOUR OWN FLESH? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, Here I am. IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE YOKE FROM YOUR MIDST, THE POINTING OF THE FINGER, AND SPEAKING WICKEDNESS, IF YOU EXTEND YOUR SOUL TO THE HUNGRY AND SATISFY THE AFFLICTED SOUL, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your 10
darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. And let us freely give His Word of life to others, just as we have freely received it. Matthew 10:8-14 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet." 11