Tag: good and faithful servant
Day 3–Delighting Jesus
Scripture reading for March 18: Matthew 25:14, 19-21 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” . . .”Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him ,‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
In response to His disciples question about what it would be like when He returned and what would be the signs of His coming, Jesus told this story about a man who left on a long journey and entrusted each of his servants with gifts and talents according to their abilities. When he returned, he called the servants in to give an account and receive their reward for serving.
Those servants who had been diligent to use their talents, no matter how few or many, were commended by their master and invited to enter into the master’s joy. The one servant who did nothing with his one talent, suffered loss of his stewardship and punishment instead of commendation. (Matthew 25:24-30) The unfaithful servant was cast out into darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
As first responders, appointed by God to serve others on His behalf, we must take this teaching to heart and use it to evaluate our own lives and attitudes. The wicked servant held a contemptuous attitude towards God. He did not know God’s goodness and promised rewards. The faithful servant wisely invested God’s talents and brought increase. We all desire to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” “Enter into the joys of your Master!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this plain teaching by Jesus about how to delight You through investing our talents to serve You and others. Guide us today in fulfilling our God-given purpose and producing fruit from sharing Your love. Amen.
Well done, good and faithful servant!
Scripture reading for February 7th: Matthew 25:14-30, Psalm 28, Proverbs 8:1-10
Everybody likes the reward of a job well done! We all long to have significance and recognition for making a contribution with our efforts. Much of our lives are spent in doing things that often have no one to commend us. In fact, often there are many who criticize us for our decisions or efforts. The world values that which is popular or exciting. God has told us in His word about the things that will bring us rewards and commendation. Let’s look at this today and evaluate our obedience to God’s commands.
Jesus finished His message about what it would be like when He returned at the end of the age with a final parable. This was a story of a rich man going on a journey and placing his servants in charge of his property. Each of of three servants were given talents (property or money) according to their ability. One got one talent, another got two talents and another got five talents. Each servant chose how to use the investments. The one with five, gained five more. The one with two gained two more. The one with one talent hid his in the ground and made no profit.
After a long time, the master returned and asked for an accounting. The two servants that had wisely invested got a well-deserved commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things! Come share in your master’s happiness.” (Matthew 25:21) The last servant got a stern rebuke and thrown out into the darkness. (Matthew 25:28-30)
Jesus summed up what he was looking for in order to give rewards. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:34-36) Jesus told them that when they did these things to the least of these, they did it to Him! Go for the reward!