Tag: wicked servant
Living in fear!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 25
“And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two 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 the master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.'” Matthew 25:22-27
When we do not know God from personal experience, we tend to make assumptions about His character. Sin has blinded us and given us a self-centered world view. Jesus, in answering His disciples questions about what it would be like when He returned, told this parable of a master giving property and money to his stewards. One got five talents, one two talents, and one got one talent, each according to their abilities. They were told to do his business. The master went away for an undisclosed time. The stewards each acted on their assignments, some in faith and one in fear.
The master returned and brought these stewards in for an accounting. The one with five had gotten five more. The one with two had gotten two more. Both were commended and rewarded. The one with one talent returned giving back the one talent. His statement revealed his fear of the master and his feeling of the master as a hard man who was unjust in reaping where he did not sow. He hid his talent in the ground and returned it without increase. For this, he lost his position as a steward and was sent away to suffer. This parable is meant to cause us to evaluate our stewardship of the talents God has blessed us with. Are we investing in faith according to God’s instruction in His Word or living in fear?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these clear parables concerning conditions among mankind when Your Son returns. Help me to wisely invest Your talents given to me that I might have increase to offer You when I see You again. I desire to hear You say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” 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!