WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “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.’” Matthew 25:20-21, ESV
Theme: The parable teaches us that, if we use what we have now wisely, whenever the end does come, we will be counted as faithful by our master.
LORD, MAKE ME RESPONSIBLE
In the early days of The Cove, it was a faith journey to plant a church and trust God for the resources to keep going. When times were tight, Mike and Rick would not get their paychecks until the following week. Believe me, it was a faith journey for both of our families, as well! Once, after Mike preached on the Parable of the Talents (in our Read section below), he also included a verse from Luke: “Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.” (Luke 12:48b, TLB). Rick and I looked at each other and said, “Lord, make us responsible!” We were in jest, but we also were living daily with the demands of our families, our regular tithe, special needs projects to buy land, or build a building, or even launch another campus.
IRONIC
You would think it easier to be generous when you have a lot of extra cash. In fact, it is harder, especially if you did not learn when you had very little. Imagine you got a one-million-dollar prize today. You know you are going to have to pay a healthy tax right off the top. Depending on your tax bracket, that’s from 30 to 37 percent of your winnings. How hard do you think it would be to then tithe $100,000.00 to your church? If you’ve not been doing this faithfully already, it will be almost impossible. However, if like the poor widow who gave all she had, you have been trusting in God to provide for your every need, that check will be much easier to write! In the same way, if you make serving a priority in your busy life, it will be easier to keep serving when kids leave home or you retire, instead of becoming absorbed with self and ease.
Whatever “talent” you have, whether money, leadership skills, talents in the arts, time, or some other intangible resource, God expects you to use it. If you do all you can with all you have, God will be pleased. I do not expect that Billy Graham and Mother Teresa will be the only ones who hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I expect the woman who visits her neighbor and reads the Bible to her or brings a hot meal will hear it. I think the person who serves faithfully in Cove Kids will hear it. The one who supports a teen to go on missions or supplies a mattress for Called to Care will hear the same heart-felt words when they meet our King.
If we live with this open-handed, generous obedience to whatever God asks of us, we can trust Him completely. We can trust that He will provide for us in our retirement years, at the end of our days, if the Second Coming occurs while we are still alive, and throughout all eternity.
Make It Personal: Consider what God has given you. Can you sing, play an instrument, or do you have a great smile? Can you mentor others or teach? Are you generous with your finances or with your time? You are made different than any other person, with gifts, personality, and a purpose like no other. Don’t waste what God has given you. Use it for His glory...and that in turn will bless your life beyond anything you can imagine.
Pray: Lord, keep us focused on being good stewards and faithful servants. Help us to use all our heart, mind, strength, and soul in Your service. Thank You for noticing and for rewarding our service, not only in this life but in the life to come. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Matthew 25:14-30
Weekly Memory Verse: Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7, NASB1995)