Saturday, July 28, 2007

Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them.
Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.

Alternative: After a much time the lord of those servants came and gather them together. And the served who had gotten five talents came up to him, offering the five additional talents saying: Lord, you gave me five talents. See, I have gained five more. His lord said to him: "Good [for you], wonderful and trustworthy servant: Since you have been trustworthy over a few things, I will raise you up over many things: rise up to the delight of your lord.

Christ applauds the idea of the rich getting richer. Despite the modern popularity of "social equality" Christianity among many, Christ himself taught something very differently. The rules of the universe say that those who create more value should get more in return, not only more rewards, but more responsibility as well.

As the last verse indicated that Christ didn't believe that all people started with the same abilities, here he indicates that those who work their greater abilities deserve more in return.

Though many today didn't understand the need for incentives or that people are naturally rewarded for better performance, Christ clearly did. This is may be why Christian nations who have followed the principles of meritocracy more than any other groups have been so relatively successful in creating better lives for everyone.

What Christ wants to see is peope "rise up," that is, improve themselves and improve their world.

"Come" is from erchomai, which means "to come" and "to go." It means "to set out" and "to arrive at." It is a little like we use the phrase "he is on his way,"or "to be under way," which can mean either that he is coming or going with no direct reference to the position of the speaker.

"Reckons" is from sunairô, (sunaeirô, sunairo) wich means "raise up together," "bind together," or "yoke together."

"Brought" is from prospherô (prospero), which means "to bring to," "to apply to," "to present," "to offer," "to contribute," "to pay," and "to bear in addition."

"Joy" is from chara , which means "joy" and "delight."