Jesus told a parable about a nobleman who went away into a far country to get a kingdom for himself. Before he left on his journey the nobleman called his ten servants and gave them each ten pounds (approximately $15 to $17) which was a good sum of money in those days to do some trading. The nobleman told his servants to remain there until he returns. After the nobleman embarked on his journey the citizens who he was in charge of sent a message after him, saying that they would not allow the nobleman to reign (exert power or authority) over them. The nobleman received the kingdom and returned to his servants who he had given the money to and called them to him so he could find out how much each of them had earned by trading. The first servant told him he had earned 10 more pounds and the nobleman was happy about that and told him he was a good and faithful servant and gave him 10 cities to rule over in the new kingdom because the servant had been very wise and productive by making a good profit with what the nobleman had given him. The second servant had earned only 5 pounds and he also proved to be good and faithful by earning a profit from what the nobleman had given, so the nobleman put him in charge of 5 cities in the new kingdom. The third servant did not do any trading and did not earn a profit but he saved the 10 pounds he had been given and brought it to the nobleman telling him that he saved the money because he knew the nobleman was an austere (strict, self disciplined, moral) man known for reaping what he had not sown. The nobleman was very upset because the third servant had not done anything with what he had given him so no profit was made. The nobleman asked the servant why he hadn't (at the very least) put the money in the bank to earn interest and then he had the money taken from the servant who had not earned anything and had the money given to the first servant who had earned 10 pounds. When the people questioned this, the nobleman said, "For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him". Then the nobleman had the citizens who had sent the message brought before him and had them killed for their disobedience.
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Luke 19:11
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. Luke 19:12
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. Luke 19:14
And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Luke 19:15
Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. Luke 19:16
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. Luke 19:17
And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. Luke 19:18
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. Luke 19:19
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: Luke 19:20
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. Luke 19:21
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Luke 19:22
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? Luke 19:23
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. Luke 19:24
(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) Luke 19:25
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. Luke 19:26
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Luke 19:27
Meaning of this parable: The Lord has given us salvation and the gift of eternal life once we are saved and He does not expect us to just hide our salvation away doing nothing with it, but rather He wants us to tell others about Him, about His life, and how God sacrificed His Son Jesus to save us from death and the hell fires and how He rose again. The more people you tell about Jesus means there will be more people who get saved because you told them. Those people who get saved because of your testimony will then tell others about Him, and so on and so on until every person in the world knows about Him and has the opportunity to be saved. Once Christ returns He will want to know what you did with your salvation. Did you hide it away? Did you share it with as many people as you could? When someone gets saved because of you it hides a multitude of your sins. The Lord wants you to share your salvation and get other people to get saved and follow Him. If you do not share it He will not be pleased about it when He returns.