Redistribution According to Saul and Barack

     Not only were both King Saul and President Obama appointed by God, their political ideologies also had much in common.  For example, both espoused the redistribution of citizen’s assets.

     They both believed that the government had the right and authority to take from one person and give it to another for political expediency.

     As would be expected, the Bible is not silent on the issue of redistribution.  In fact it would be difficult to find any contemporary issue that is not referenced in the Bible.

     There is a very enlightening example found in the gospel of Matthew that explains redistribution.  The example is referred to as the ‘Parable of the Talents.’ 

     This parable describes the current church age where Christ has ascended to His Father’s throne awaiting the word to return for His bride.  Prior to His departure He gave, or distributed, His goods to His chosen stewards to grow the kingdom during His absence.  Upon Christ’s return to earth He will evaluate each one’s stewardship of His goods and redistribute those goods according to the productivity of each of His stewards.

     “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods 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.”  Matthew 25:14-15

     The Greek basis for the word ‘like’ in the above Scripture verses means wholly as, just as, same as, or exactly like.  In other words, the parable explains succinctly the similarity between the productivity of physical assets (money) and spiritual gifts bestowed to Christ’s servants.

     The Greek basis for the words ‘delivered’ and ‘gave’ mean to commit or trust to the charge or care of someone or something.  Other synonyms include bestow or grant.

     The phrase ‘according to his own ability’ can be explained by another popular Scripture passage.

     “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith…”  Romans 12:6

     ‘One’s own ability’ is the measure of faith (proportion to our faith) bestowed, or given, to each of God’s servants by the Holy Spirit to use for the furtherance of the Kingdom of heaven during Christ’s absence.

     The servants who had been given five and two talents respectively began to trade in order to increase the amount that was entrusted to their stewardship. 

     Several translations including NIV and NASB state that they both began immediately to buy and sell in order to grow the talents entrusted to them.

     It must always be remembered that the talents (goods) did not belong to the stewards, i.e. they were entrusted with their Master’s goods during His absence.

     Upon the Master’s return the three stewards would be required to account for their stewardship of their Master’s goods.

     The two stewards entrusted with five and two talents respectively had doubled their Master’s goods and were commended for their stewardship.

     “His (their) lord said to him (them), ‘Well done, good and faithful servant(s); you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things…’”  Matthew 25:21, 23

     However, the servant entrusted with the one talent did not invest and grow that which he had been entrusted with, but rather he took his master’s goods out of circulation.

     This servant totally misread his master’s person, purpose and motive.

     “…Lord, I knew you to be a hard man…”  Matthew 25:24

     The Greek for ‘knew’ in this context means perceived or thought, not knowledge due to comprehension or spiritual wisdom.

     His actions called for redistribution.

     “But his lord answered…you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers; and…I would have received back my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.”  Matthew 25:26-28

     Mr. President, are you listening?

     “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away…”  Matthew 25:29

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