It is exasperating to lose something and not be able to find it. There is this nagging feeling at the back of our heads, that keeps bothering us. When we find the article, it is like a load of worry drowned in joys and happiness untold. In the book of Luke 15:8-10, Jesus tells us the parable of the lost coin. “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” Luke 15:8-10.
During those days, women usually received ten coins as a wedding present. Married women wore a headband that was made up of coins strung together. Each piece held sentimental as well as monetary value, so the loss of even one was very upsetting. This headband served several functions in the life of the married woman of that time.
• It told other men that she was married. It served the same purpose as our wedding ring.
• It was a reminder to her husband that if he divorced her, she was able to make a fresh start. One coin was the equivalent of 1 day’s wages. Evidently, she and her husband were very poor, because she only possessed 10 coins. Many wealthy women wore headbands comprised of dozens of coins
• When a woman had been guilty of unfaithfulness, a coin was sometimes removed from her headband to tell everyone what she was.
The Lost Coin parable is actually one of a set of three short stories found in Luke 15. They include the parable of the lost sheep and also the prodigal son. They were meant to help Jesus’ listeners learn more about the Kingdom of God. In these illustrations, of the Lost Sheep, and of the Lost Son, The Lord is trying to teach us that God sees the value in every single individual! For instance, in the illustration of the Lost Sheep, the shepherd was looking for just 1 out of 100. In the story of the Lost Coin, the woman is looking for 1 out of 10. In the illustration of the Lost Son, the father is looking for 1 out of 2.
So long as we have things, we are not mindful of them. It is only when it is lost then we understand its value. Just like we would be joyful if we found something of great value, likewise, everyone in heaven is also immensely joyful when even one sinner stops sinning and repents. Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Let us understand one thing. Jesus came to save the entire humanity. Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He died for the entire mankind Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” No matter how sinful we are, no matter how deep we are entrenched in sin, in no way it is impossible for our Saviour to save us. Even if we think we are worthless, he does not care, for we are like the silver coin. Every single soul is of value to the Lord.
Dr Ashwin Drummond