THE PARABLE OF THE BAGS OF GOLD

THE PARABLE OF THE BAGS OF GOLD

THIS PARABLE REFLECTS

THE EARLY CHURCH’S PREDILECTION

TO AVOID THE WORLD.

TO KEEP ONESELF HOLY

 BY RUNNING OFF TO THE DESERT

OR LIVING AN ABNORMAL LIFE

LIKE THE STYLITES

, AVOIDING MARITAL SEX,

EXCESSIVE FASTING,

 LACK OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

THE ONES WHO TOOK

 THEIR GOD GIVEN SKILLS

TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD

WERE PLEASING TO THE MASTER,

 THE ONES WHO HID

 THEIR GOD GIVEN SKILLS

 TO AVOID ENTANGLEMENT

 DID NOT.

TO BE INVOLVED

 WAS FOREIGN TO THE EARLY CHURCH

WHICH WAS EXPECTING

CHRIST’S IMMINENT RETURN.

BUT CHRIST DID NOT WANT

THAT KIND OF SOCIETY,

 A ME FIRST SOCIETY

SO HE CASTIGATES THE ONE

WHO BURIED THE GOLD

AS BEING NO EARTHLY GOOD.

I’VE OFTEN WONDERED

WHAT THE MASTER’S REACTION

 WOULD HAVE BEEN

HAD THE OTHER TWO SERVANTS

HAVE FAILED IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.

WOULD GOD HAVE BEEN PLEASED

WITH THE EFFORT

NOT DISPLEASED AT ITS FAILURE.

CHRIST EXPECTS HIS FOLLOWERS

TO WORK FOR THE KINGDOM

 NOT HIDE THEIR LIGHT

UNDER A BASKET.

 THE MESSAGE WAS TRUE THEN,

 IT’S STILL TRUE NOW.

FRANK A VOLLMER