The Evaluation

“If you have made the decision to follow Jesus, then there is only one standard for success, and it’s are you doing His business?” — Pastor Matthew Johnson

In Luke chapter 19, Jesus tells a parable that confronts how we define success, faithfulness, and obedience. It is a sobering story, but it is also an invitation- an invitation to examine our lives honestly and to align our priorities with God’s heart while we wait for Christ’s return.

At the center of this teaching is a simple but challenging truth: everything we have belongs to God, and how we use what He has entrusted to us matters deeply.

Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. Yet the abundant life Jesus describes is not rooted in comfort, accumulation, or personal achievement. True life is found when God is honored as the highest priority in every area of our lives.

From the beginning of Scripture, God makes it clear that all things, both tangible and intangible, belong to Him. Our time, our finances, our relationships, our abilities, and our opportunities are not ultimately ours to own but ours to steward. When we live with this perspective, obedience becomes worship, surrender deepens our relationship with God, and generosity flows naturally from gratitude.

Luke 19 places this parable in a moment filled with tension. Just before Jesus tells the story, He has a life-changing encounter with Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who was despised by society and considered spiritually lost. Yet when Jesus enters Zacchaeus’s life, genuine repentance follows. Zacchaeus responds by giving generously and restoring what he had stolen, and Jesus declares that salvation has come to his home.

This moment confuses and frustrates the crowd. Those who believed they were close to God find themselves unsettled, while someone they believed was far from God is clearly transformed. Jesus tells the parable that follows to address this tension and to challenge self-deception among those listening.

Jesus describes a nobleman who goes away to receive a kingdom. Before leaving, he entrusts his servants with money and instructs them to engage in business until he returns. The meaning is clear. God entrusts His people with resources, influence, and responsibility, and He expects those gifts to be used for His purposes, not our own.

When the nobleman returns, he calls each servant to give an account of what they have done. Some servants faithfully invest what they were given and receive a great reward. Another servant, driven by fear, does nothing and simply returns what was entrusted to him. The response to this servant is severe, revealing that neutrality and inactivity are not faithful options in the kingdom of God.

Through this parable, Jesus reveals that people respond to God in very different ways. Some openly reject His authority and want nothing to do with Him. Others believe they belong to God yet live without obedience or surrender, using what He has given them for themselves rather than for His kingdom. Still others faithfully steward what God has entrusted to them, trusting Him fully and aligning their lives with His purposes.

This teaching forces us to ask a deeply personal question: where do we truly stand? Faithfulness is not measured by appearances or religious activity alone. While church attendance, prayer, Scripture reading, and worship are vital parts of the Christian life, they are not the full measure of obedience. Faithfulness is revealed in how we use everything God has given us to honor Him and advance His kingdom.

Jesus consistently points His audience toward eternity. He reminds them that He will return and that there will be a moment of evaluation. Every life will one day stand before God and give an account.

Without an eternal perspective, God’s call to surrender can feel overwhelming or restrictive. But when eternity is kept in view, sacrifice becomes meaningful. Temporary obedience now is insignificant compared to eternal life in the presence of God, where sin, suffering, and brokenness no longer exist and every desire is fully satisfied in Him.

Throughout Scripture, God reveals a consistent truth about His character: He desires to bless His people. Blessing is not random or arbitrary. It flows from obedience, not because God is transactional, but because He is a loving Father who knows what leads to life.

From Israel’s journey out of Egypt to the stories of faithful kings, prophets, and leaders, obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings discipline. God does not bless rebellion because doing so would harm His children. His commands are always rooted in love, wisdom, and a desire for our good.

Jesus reinforces this truth in His teaching. God rewards faithfulness. He multiplies generosity. He blesses obedience in ways that shape our lives both now and for eternity.

One of the most important truths revealed in this parable is that how we view God determines how we respond to Him. Those who rejected the nobleman viewed his authority as oppressive and responded with rebellion. The unfaithful servant saw the master as harsh and responded with fear and inactivity. The faithful servants trusted the master and joyfully carried out his will.

The same is true today. If obedience feels burdensome, it may reveal something about how we see God. But when we trust His goodness, surrender becomes an act of worship rather than obligation. Faithfulness flows naturally from gratitude when we truly believe that God is good and that His ways lead to life.

Jesus does not tell this parable to shame, guilt, or discourage. He tells it because He loves us. He wants us to see clearly, turn from self-deception, and experience the abundant life He offers.

The question before us is not whether God has entrusted us with something; He has. The question is how we are using what He has given us. Will we live for ourselves, or will we live for His kingdom? Will we worship Jesus as King, or will we resist His authority?

Jesus invites us to be faithful servants - people who trust Him fully, surrender everything, and live with eternity in view.

The Tree Church exists to help people follow Jesus and grow in faith. With locations in Lancaster and Logan, Ohio, we gather each week to worship, learn God’s Word, and build meaningful community together. Whether you’re new to church or have been following Jesus for years, you’re welcome to join us on Sundays at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.

Lancaster Campus
721 N Memorial Dr, Lancaster, OH 43130

Logan Campus
36 Hocking Mall, Logan, OH 43138