The
parable of the Pounds tells us that when opportunities are the same,
greater faithfulness will receive greater reward.

This latter parable was delivered, as Luke tells us, because Jesus "was
nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was
immediately to appear." Jesus therefore compared himself with a nobleman
who went into a far country, "to receive for himself a kingdom, and to
return." Jesus was always indicating the fact that there would be a long
delay after his ascension before he would return, and that meanwhile his
followers should be faithful to the opportunities granted them for serving
their Master. In this parable Jesus pictured these opportunities under the
figure of pounds, that is, sums of money amounting to something like
sixteen dollars each. In comparison with a "talent" this was an
insignificant sum. Our Lord wished to suggest that to every one of his
followers something is intrusted which may be used for the advancement of
his cause.

Jesus knew that the Jews were not only to reject him but were to continue
in unbelief after his departure; thus in the parable he stated that "his
citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not
that this man reign over us." The main portion of the picture, however, is
concerned with the return of the nobleman and the reward of his servants.
This reward was proportioned to fidelity during the time of his absence.
By way of example, one who had so used his pound as to gain ten pounds was
made the ruler over ten cities; and one who had gained five, was appointed
over five cities. The reward for service is thus shown to be larger
service. Faithfulness in that which is very small is a preparation for
larger responsibilities and more glorious tasks. This is true in the
present, and the principle will be the same in the future.

One man was found, however, who had made no use of his pound. He had kept
it "laid up in a napkin." His excuse was that he feared his master and he
said, almost boastfully, that he had not lost what had been intrusted to
him. He was giving back that which he had been given him. The nobleman,
however, properly rebuked this unfaithful servant in the very terms which
he himself had used. If the master was known to be so strict, the servant
should have been prepared to give a better account of his stewardship. It
is true that one cause for unfaithfulness is an ignorance of the true
nature of our Lo