At the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will approach Him as The Judge, not as The Lamb!
It is imperative that we understand this side of Jesus Christ.
Most of us have not considered Jesus as the ultimate Judge Who executes justice. Instead, we have viewed Him as a docile Lamb Who is gentle, meek, and mild. Jesus is not your buddy who overlooks your unrighteousness, lawlessness, or slothfulness.
Let us revisit His Words.
Jesus spoke this parable in Luke chapter 19:
12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
All ten servants were given the same opportunity to be productive for the nobleman. They were separate from the other citizens who were not his servants.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
Those who rejected him were of a different group.
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
We are now in the last days knowing that Jesus has received The Kingdom. He fulfilled His mandate as The Lamb of GOD and now He is ready to be The Judge of His Servants (including us). What was He going to judge? Our productivity on behalf of The Kingdom.
16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
The first servant was totally focused on being productive on behalf of the Kingdom. He put the money to work in a most effective way. He was fully occupied with doing business and trade.
It is vital to see how Jesus judged the first servant, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.‘
18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’
19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
Jesus judged the servant according to his results which were of a lesser degree. In this case, Jesus did not say “Well done, good servant”. However, the servant was still rewarded with greater authority.
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.
21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
The third servant did nothing. Could we infer that 8 out of 10 servants did nothing? Is this the classic 80/20 rule? 20% worked while 80% watched?
22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.
23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)
26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
The third servant lost out on his opportunity to be productive and in authority. He was judged to be a wicked servant and did not make the cut. He did not really know Jesus, so he did nothing for The Kingdom.
Our Master makes servants into rulers.
This next and last verse of this parable must not be overlooked!
27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.‘“
This final verse brings the full force of judgment on the enemies of Christ. As Judge, Jesus demanded these enemies to be slain before Him. It is critical that we see Jesus as the ultimate Judge and that we walk in the Fear of THE LORD at all times!