Creator, Father, King #217

Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!

ON TUESDAY OF PASSION Week, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem with his disciples. Using prophecies and parables, he spoke to them about future events and God’s Kingdom.

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), he told of a wealthy man who entrusted three of his servants with large sums of money before going on a long journey. The first servant received five talents, the second received two talents, and the third received one talent. (In ancient times, a talent was a monetary weight of measurement.)

When the master returned, he found that the first and second servants had invested his money wisely and doubled their amounts. The master praised each of the men individually. “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” he told them. “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (today’s verse).

The third servant, however, had foolishly buried his talent in the ground. When the master asked for an accounting, the man could only give back the original talent. The master rebuked the wicked servant and threw him “into outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30).

What’s It Mean?

The master in the parable is Jesus, and the servants represent us. Jesus’ long journey is the current church age between his ascension into heaven and his future second coming. When he returns, what will he discover that you’ve done while he’s been away?

God has given you unique spiritual gifts and abilities. These are the “talents” in the parable. He blessed you with these to glorify him, spread the gospel, and build his Kingdom. By doing this, you will “multiply your talents” like the good servants in the parable.

Don’t be like the wicked, unbelieving servant who wasted his talent by hiding it in the ground and was condemned to eternal punishment. Use your gifts, skills, and abilities to their full potential for God’s glory until Jesus returns. Then one day when you enter the Lord’s presence in eternity, you will hear those beautiful words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Now What?

Find ways to use your God-given talents to glorify him at church, school, and in your community.

Did You Know?

A talent was worth approximately twenty years’ wages for a daily laborer—a huge sum.