Invest While I’m Gone

Before [the nobleman] left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, “Invest this for me while I am gone.” Luke 19:13

In the autumn of 1970, my husband, Don, and I visited out-of-town friends and helped with their teen hour on Sunday evening. Both Don and I were high school teachers and enjoyed chatting with the students over refreshments. One senior girl especially impressed us with her vivacious and intelligent comments, so as typical teachers, we asked her where she planned to go to college. She tossed her head.

“Oh, Dad said I don’t have to worry about going to college since the Lord will return before I graduate.”

Well, here it is almost four decades later, and the Lord still hasn’t shown up. I wish I knew where that young woman is now. Was she disappointed when graduation night arrived but the Lord hadn’t? Did she dismiss everything her father said after that? Is she still complaining his failed prediction ruined her life?

I often think of her as I read Luke 19:11-27, where the Lord presents a cryptic account of his own kingship and coming reign through the parable of a nobleman who planned a long journey. Before the nobleman left, he divided ten pounds of silver among his ten servants. In their currency, one portion of the silver was worth about three months’ salary, so each man was being entrusted with a substantial amount and commanded to put the money to work.

When the nobleman returned after a lengthy absence, his first two servants had invested their share and seen it grow ten and five times greater. But the third servant presented his master with the same amount of silver he had received, saying that because of his fear he had hidden the money and kept it safe. His master scolded him for doing nothing and ordered that this servant’s portion be given to the servant who had multiplied his investment by ten.

I hope that senior girl from years ago was like the first wise servant. I hope she grabbed the opportunity to live a full life while she faithfully waited for the Lord to appear. —SANDRA

Lord, thank you for this reminder to continue the work you have given us even as we watch for your return. Help us to work as if we will be here forever as we wait.

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength.

—ARCHIBALD JOSEPH CRONIN (1896–1981), SCOTTISH PHYSICIAN, DRAMATIST, AND WRITER

From the book