Sabbath Thought - Supererogation

The story is told of a rich man who was to take an extended trip.  Before he left he called all of his employees before him and made sure they all knew what their responsibilities were while he was gone.  Each employee received different responsibilities and corresponding budgets.  While the rich man was away the employees saw to their responsibilities - except for one.  Knowing that the owner was demanding, and afraid to misspend his assigned budget, this employee simply sat on what his boss had given him.  When the rich owner returned from his trip, he called for all of his employees so they could account for what had transpired in his absence.  The employees who multiplied his money he rewarded with a promotion.  The employee who did nothing with his responsibility was chastised by the rich owner, for the money entrusted to him could have at least earned interest in the bank.  Because this employee sat on the potential of what was given to him, all other responsibility was taken away and given to others.

This story is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.  The rich man is Christ, and His travel was to Heaven until His return.  The talents given to each of His servants are many: forgiveness from God; blessings of increase on many levels; spiritual understanding; God's grace; and so forth.  The talents in this parable do not represent salvation for there are no degrees of salvation - you are either saved or you're not - the talents represent ability.  No matter what our ability (or abilities) might be, God has called us to build on those abilities.  We are to grow; the talents also represent the degree to which we grow the spiritual blessings God gives us. 

God has called us to make the most of the calling He has given us.  The act of doing more than is required or expected is called supererogation.  Not many of us have physical bosses who give us a big budget and say, "I trust you to make more - to do more - with this," but that is in essence what God has said to us.  The last servant in the parable of the talents failed to supererogate - he failed to do more than what was simply required of him - while the first two servants took what had been given to them to set about doing more with what they had been given.

In Luke 12:35-40 we are told to be faithful in preparing and watching for Christ's return, because otherwise we can be caught off-guard when He does return.  It is not enough to understand doctrine.  It is not enough to read scripture.  It is not enough to simply go through the motions of a Christian's calling.  To supererogate we must go above and beyond what is required or expected by living, practicing and faithfully growing in all the spiritual blessing that God gives to us (Luke 12:43, 48).

Supererogation - done in a Godly attitude - is about going above and beyond because we owe God more than we could ever give back.  God isn't looking for repayment, however, He is looking for our heart and for us to emulate Him - after all, He supererogated first - going above and beyond in what He wants to give to all of mankind.

So what are some practical ways to supererogate?  How do we go above and beyond to please God?

1. Serve others who cannot repay you (Matthew 25:32-46).
2. Serve God more than we think we can (1 Corinthians 15:9-10, Matthew 23:23).
3. Stir up God's Holy Spirit through use (2 Peter 3:18, Timothy 1:6-7).
4. Be faithful in the calling God has given to you (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

Will we be a faithful servant?  Will we take whatever measure of God's Holy Spirit has been given to us, and seek to do more with it?  Will we supererogate?  If we do, then when Christ returns He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I wish you a profitable and value filled Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

8 July 2022