Pray While We Run
Fergus Buchanan
October 30, 2025
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Luke 19: 11-27 (NIVUK)
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.”
14 ‘But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.”
15 ‘He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 ‘The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”
17 ‘“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”
18 ‘The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.”
19 ‘His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”
20 ‘Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.”
22 ‘His master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?”
24 ‘Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.”
25 ‘“Sir,” they said, “he already has ten!”
26 ‘He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them – bring them here and kill them in front of me.”’
Two wee boys were running late for school for the third time that week. One said: ‘Let’s stop and say a prayer that we’ll be on time.’ The other said: ‘I’ve a better idea. Let’s pray while we are running.’
This is what Augustine of Hippo meant centuries ago; writing about the Christian life he said we have to pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. That balance has to be struck in every aspect of our discipleship. I always liked my study to be tidy though it very rarely was. I could envision what it might be like but in the end that could never be enough. The study was not going to tidy itself. Some hard graft needed to be employed by myself.
It’s like this in so many areas of the Christian life. We pray to be more patient as if the Holy Spirit will just zap us with patience and that’s that! In my experience what usually happens is that God will continue to place me in demanding circumstances, dealing with irritating people — giving me repeated opportunities to be patient.
Elevate this to the coming of the Kingdom of God. We are promised that at the end of all things there will be a cosmic climax when everything that has even caused us pain will be evacuated from our experience. When Jesus was nearing Jerusalem for the last time, there was an expectation that the Kingdom ‘would appear at once.’ But Jesus told this story which pressed pause on this. The king expected the ten minas to be put to work. His servants were given a vision of what the minas could accomplish. Some realised the vision but one came under judgement for his unwillingness to work with the gift. As such, he could no longer be at home in the kingdom.
Jesus has given us the resources we need to grow as individual Christians and to grow as the Church. We have His Spirit, His Word, and His vision of a world transformed. How do we use these gifts as we wait for the Kingdom? If the Kingdom was to come in our lifetime, how much at home would we be?
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to pray while we are running. Praying as if everything depends on You and working as if everything depends on us. Give us grace to realise the power of your resources to transform our lives and the world in which we live. Amen.
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