“His master replied, ‘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
Faithfulness is not a character trait that is as highly regarded in our culture as it once was. There seems to be an overall lack of trust and skepticism in how we think and interact with one another. When doing business, the buyer is skeptical of the seller. Most things must be put in writing because a man’s handshake and his word are no longer enough. Divorce is rampant, and in many cases cheap and easy. There are websites and establishments that advertise adultery. Doping and other forms of cheating are commonplace in sports. Wherever you look unfaithfulness seems to be the norm.
This is a discouraging truth, isn’t it? As a grandparent, I grieve that I cannot just send my grandkids out to play without worrying about them. We teach our children to avoid strangers…not to trust them. Even Christians no longer feel the sense of responsibility to faithfully commit to a Church family, but rather tend to shop around for a church that feels good for now.
But be encouraged! There is no doubt in God’s Word that He still values faithfulness. When Jesus described the coming Kingdom of heaven to His disciples, He compared it to a man who “entrusted his wealth” to his servants (Matthew 25:14). Have you ever thought of your life in this way…that the King of kings and Most High God has entrusted you with His wealth? Think about this for a moment…the riches of God cannot even be quantified. And yet, He has chosen to entrust His wealth – His reputation and Great Name – to His people.
In this parable, the rich man divided his wealth among three servants “each according to his ability” (Matthew 25:15). One received five bags of gold, one two bags, and one only received one bag. The man with one bag buried his wealth, probably for fear of losing it having nothing. The other two men put the wealth to work and earned more. When the master returned, he was pleased with the men who used his resources to earn more, but angry with the servant who, out of fear, buried the wealth and returned only what he had been given.
What is God trying to tell us about His kingdom through this illustration? He has entrusted His glory to us so that we might multiply that glory. Does this mean we make God more glorious? Of course not! But we do magnify His glory through our lives when we don’t’ keep what He’s given us to ourselves. A faithful servant of Christ invests our lives wisely in things of eternal value. We neither bury nor squander what the Master has given us. And one day, by His grace, we will hear: “Well done good and faithful servant! Come share in your master’s happiness!”
Dear God, Please help me to be faithful in the small things You have entrusted to me. Help me to remember that everything belongs to You. May my life display Your faithfulness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Topics: Faith
