Well Done
“Only the Servant Will Hear Well Done”
Matthew 25:14-19: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (NKJ)
This parable of the talents is well known and often quoted, saying “I want to hear the Lord say well done”. Have you considered what it takes from you in order to hear the Lord say “Well done”? The scripture says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant (vs. 21). Matthew 25:14 starts by saying a man called his own SERVANTS. There is no description as to what each servant did for his master, just that they were servants. The master gave each servant a task to handle while he was away.
Matthew 25:14:15: And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability;
Romans 12:6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
1 Corinthians 12:4-7: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Who is a servant? All who call on the name of the Lord are servants. Whether you think you are or not, God has called us all to serve him, according to how he created us. One writer puts it this way: “servants are rewarded based on how well they managed the resources they were granted, how you make use of the talents and resources at your disposal is more important than how many resources you have.”
I hear some saying even now, “but I don’t know what I am supposed to do, I don’t know my purpose.” So many of God’s people use that as an excuse, but we will see in the parable that we are without excuse.
Matthew 25:24-25: “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
Yes, we never experience change, we stay the same, never growing, never reaching out to others, and never doing anything for fear. “I don’t know if this is what God wants me to do”, so we stay stagnant. Ignorance is no excuse, according to the parable.
Matthew 25:26-27 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
The servant that hears, “well done”, is one who is growing in grace and in knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The servant, who has taken his responsibility seriously, acts as if the talents belong to him, and acts like he will benefit personally is a profitable servant.
Matthew 25:20: ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
Matthew 25:22: ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
Both of the servants received the same reward, it did not matter how much they produced, only that they took what was given to them and increased it. That sounds like growth. Staying the same, year after year, not increasing in knowledge is a sure fire way to becoming an unprofitable servant. Take what you have and work with it, find others to help you grow, get with those that are serving and serve with them. Do not ignore the Spirit of God that dwells within you (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16). He wants to lead you in all that you do: so that you can hear “well done”.
Matthew 25:21, 23: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
The servant that was living in fear, hiding his talents, not working with what was given to him, choosing not to grow, choosing to stay the same did not receive a reward. Instead, he was banished to outer-darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30: cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Outer darkness denotes being out of the presence of the Lord. Jesus is light, and when the Kingdom of Heaven arrives here on earth, the unprofitable servant will weep, because he will not be able to be in the presence of his Lord, his master.
Prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus, thanks for all that you have given me. Thanks for the ability given to me to be a profitable servant. Thank you that I desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for leading and guiding me into all truth and righteousness. Thank you that I am a good and faithful servant. I truly desire to enter into the joy of the Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Be blessed,
Pastor Rosita
