Doing Business
“Do business... until I come back”. Luke 19:13b
It seems that our world is becoming an increasingly hostile place. From the insidious virus waging a silent, deadly war, to the human propensity for violence; economic upheaval, greed, intolerance, division, just to name a few ills plaguing the planet. It’s difficult going about our daily business, let alone doing good work. When I searched the scripture looking for some guidance, I happened upon this parable in Luke’s gospel (chapter 19:11–24).
It seems that our world is becoming an increasingly hostile place. From the insidious virus waging a silent, deadly war, to the human propensity for violence; economic upheaval, greed, intolerance, division, just to name a few ills plaguing the planet. It’s difficult going about our daily business, let alone doing good work. When I searched the scripture looking for some guidance, I happened upon this parable in Luke’s gospel (chapter 19:11–24).
In this story, Jesus tells us of a nobleman who has to leave his home in order to receive papers proving his legal authority to rule the region. The minute he leaves town, his countrymen, who despise him, send a delegation requesting that he not be given authority to rule over them. Before he leaves, he gathers his servants for some final orders. Instead of telling them to ‘lay low’ and not draw attention to themselves (since their countrymen were so hostile), he gives each of them an equal amount of money and tells them to do business with the money until he returns. The first man makes 10x the amount given, the second, 5x the amount. The third man doesn’t want to take any risks and returns the money without having improved on the investment.
The master is very angry with the third man because he expected each to ‘do business’. The point of the story is that we are called to ‘do the business’ of the Kingdom of God, even in a hostile environment. The nature of that business is to reflect the Love and Grace of God, by being honest in all our dealings, seeking justice, living in harmony, promoting peace; all summed up in the command to Love our neighbors as ourselves.
I was given a powerful illustration of this some years ago. When my parents moved to a new neighborhood, they attempted to befriend the people who lived in the house next to theirs’, only to be repeatedly rebuffed. What they did not know at the time, was that the previous owner of their house had threatened their neighbors with a gun! These people were not inclined to open themselves up to abuse, so they kept to themselves. About a year after their move, my parents noticed that the lady of the house was not in sight. They made inquiry and found out she was sick. Although rebuffed many times, mom made chicken soup and sent it over with a get well note. That ministry broke through the hostility. When my parents’ health declined, these neighbors were our lifeline, taking care of our parents in every crisis until we were able to make travel arrangements.
Not every deed of kindness will bring about positive results, we may still encounter hostility even after we have done our best; but Jesus, who knows something about suffering for a just cause, continues to command us to ‘do business’ (God’s Business!!!) until he returns. Let that be our passion in 2021
I was given a powerful illustration of this some years ago. When my parents moved to a new neighborhood, they attempted to befriend the people who lived in the house next to theirs’, only to be repeatedly rebuffed. What they did not know at the time, was that the previous owner of their house had threatened their neighbors with a gun! These people were not inclined to open themselves up to abuse, so they kept to themselves. About a year after their move, my parents noticed that the lady of the house was not in sight. They made inquiry and found out she was sick. Although rebuffed many times, mom made chicken soup and sent it over with a get well note. That ministry broke through the hostility. When my parents’ health declined, these neighbors were our lifeline, taking care of our parents in every crisis until we were able to make travel arrangements.
Not every deed of kindness will bring about positive results, we may still encounter hostility even after we have done our best; but Jesus, who knows something about suffering for a just cause, continues to command us to ‘do business’ (God’s Business!!!) until he returns. Let that be our passion in 2021
Rev. Dawn E. Volpe, Ephraim Moravian Church
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