Despite how it seems to read, this parable is actually about the wonder of God and his grace to his servants. The master gives his servants a ridiculously large amount of money and entrusts them to look after it. They are only servants, yet they are trusted with so much and even get to work the family business! These servants are more like sons. Two of them respond well to this act of grace and put their money to work, while the third does not.  He thinks badly of his master as mean and unfair and does not work at all.

So what should Christians do with what God gives them? It all comes down to seeing what their Master is really like – gracious and generous. He gives us resources, talents, money and we should use them well for Him. This is not about guilt, but about an appropriate response of hard work and thankfulness. It is not as if we get the huge gift at the end – we have already received it if we trust in Jesus! Let’s get to it, and work in the family business, building up Christians and reaching out to others.

(Based on ANPC Sunday teaching, 16 May 2010 ).

If this is true, it means as we live in our earthly countries and cultures, we need to be good representatives of heaven. Christians are described as “travellers and exiles” on this earth (1 Peter 2:11).  When people see you, you might be the only Christian they know – their impression of you might be their impression of Jesus and of heaven. We need to be a good example before those we work with and live near.  Who know? Maybe our influence will help lead them towards also following Jesus (1 Peter 2:12).

This also means we need to submit to the government and justice system of our society, for they are put there by God (Romans 13). Unless they tell us to do something God does not approve, we need to be obedient and good examples to others. This includes paying our taxes and obeying the road rules! Christians should be excellent citizens of the country they live in as they wait for their real passport to be stamped in heaven.

(Based on ANPC Sunday teaching, 9 May 2010 ).

The Bible says quite a lot about the workplace, but usually about slaves and masters (as in Ephesians 6:5-9).  In our modern age we are paid for our labours and free to leave, but the idea of working under someone in authority is the same. The temptation is to slack off and work hard when we are being watched, while the temptation for employers is to work our employees too hard and reward them too little.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that Jesus is our real boss.  We need to work as if we are working for him, not our real boss with all his failings. So we need to obey our boss with sincerity, even when he is not around.  God will reward you, even if your current boss does not.

One thing we need to watch for is making our work the reason we live, what gives our life purpose and meaning.  Jesus is not just our real boss, he is the one who gives us purpose and meaning.  Looking for this in work will only leave us disappointed.  We need to work hard, knowing it is in Jesus we will finally find fulfilment and rest.

(Based on ANPC Sunday teaching, 2 May 2010 ).

1 Timothy 2:1-15 deals directly with this issue. It seems it was an issue in first century Turkey like it is in 21st century Perth.  The basic principle is clear – women cannot teach or have authority over a man.  This restricts women from preaching to a mixed adult group, acting as elders or deacons, and other formal leadership roles over men.  Paul argues this based on creation order – God created men to lead, and women to help, and this also applies to the church.

This DOES NOT MEAN women are in any way less capable, or less important, or unable to teach at all, or unable to help in church.  There are so many great ways women can serve God in church, and church would not be able to function without the ministry of many women.  We need to see this as an order God has put in place for our benefit.  We need to consider where we are in our life situation, and serve God wholeheartedly in any capacity we can.