Well Done, Faithful Servant

Chuckle: "Shin: An excellent device for finding furniture in the dark."

Good Quote: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." --unknown source

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness"  (Matthew 25:23 NIV).

I hope you will open your Bible and read the entire parable told by Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus often taught using parables, which are earthly stories with spiritual meanings. This is a lesson from Jesus on being a faithful steward of that which God has entrusted to you. The master was going on a journey and he gave money to three servants to be managed in his absence. In accordance with their abilities, he gave five talents to the first servant, two talents to the second, and one talent to the third. A talent was a unit of money valued at approximately $1,200. A key point is that each servant was given responsibility for something significant.

Put yourself in the shoes of each of these servants. If you were the servant receiving only one talent, would you have been angry because the others were given more than you? Sometimes we may be so concerned with what others have that we fail to appreciate what God has given us. While it is true that some are blessed with more than others, financially, we should never lose sight of the Biblical truth that we all are blessed with different gifts and we should use them faithfully and responsibly.

While the master was away, the servant with the five talents invested the money wisely and gained five more talents. The one with the two talents did the same and gained two more talents. But the servant with one talent merely dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money for fear of losing it if he had invested it.

When the master returned, he was pleased that two of the servants had put the money to work and his money had been doubled. The master called them faithful servants as our basic text indicates. But he was disappointed and angry that the one-talent servant had not invested and increased his money and said, "You wicked, lazy servant!" . . . Take the one talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him" (vv. 26, 28-29).

If we are not faithful in our work for the honor and glory of our Lord using the gifts and resources He has given to us, we will miss out on the eternal blessings God wants to give us. The main lesson from this parable is that our preparedness for Jesus' return is reflected in our stewardship of all the resources God has entrusted to us. What are you doing with the resources the Master has entrusted to you? This includes your time, spiritual gifts, skills, abilities, and monetary resources.

Love, Jerry & Dotse