Editor’s note: The following is based on a sermon by James Petty, AFM Planned Giving Specialist.

There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first, he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, ‘Operate with this until I return.’

“But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: ‘We don’t want this man to rule us.’

“When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.

“The first said, ‘Master, I made a ten-fold increase on your money.’

“He said, ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making you governor of ten cities.’

“The second said, ‘Master, I made a five-fold increase on your money.’

“He said, ‘I’m putting you in charge of five cities.’

“The next servant said, ‘Master, here’s your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards, hate sloppiness and don’t suffer fools gladly.’

“The Master said, ‘You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly — and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’ (Luke 11:12-23 Message Bible).”

The nobleman in Jesus’ parable entrusted all his servants with money and instructions to use his money until his return. In the parable, Jesus illustrated how the servants dealt with the resources assigned to them. Nine must have obeyed and invested the money, receiving various degrees of return, because we only see the nobleman rebuking one servant.

Although this parable does not detail what each servant did with the master’s money, the Bible is clear that we, as Christ’s servants, are to use our resources to advance His kingdom. God has committed to us talents and money with instructions to use these resources wisely until Christ’s return.

God calls some to “Go” and share the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world, entrusting them with talents to accomplish this task. God calls others to “Give” to support those overseas workers with His money to fulfill this call. All of us can pray for the advance of the gospel.

I encourage you to be like the nine faithful servants, prayerfully using and investing Christ’s resources, which He has entrusted to you.

AFM Planned Giving has a variety of options that allow you to carefully invest God’s resources in missions to the unreached. Our Planned Giving Specialist, James Petty, is available to help. Contact James today! (800) 937-4236 or jpetty@afmonline.org.

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