Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)
Well done, good and faithful servant!
We all hope this is what God is thinking of us..Striving to be like Jesus everyday is a challenge, but when achieved is truly rewarding. Jesus spoke in parables and those who believed in Him understood the meaning. This parable describes a Master entrusting his gold to his servants while he makes a journey. He gives each of the 3 servants a different amount according to their ability. Two of the servants put their “money to work” and the third servant hid the gold thinking this was the best way to serve his Master.(and for fear of losing it) When the Master returned and found out what happened he gave the third servant’s bag of gold to the one with more and reprimanded him for not using it to the best of his ability. Ability is this parable refers to talents. In this life we are expected to use our talents (gifts) and wealth to help others. 29 “ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Don’t allow fear to cause no growth in your life.
God wants us to use our talents to benefit the Kingdom of God. Our time spent in prayer and/or going to Church are desirable Christian traits, however using our talents to help others, improve the community and better the world are important discipleship activities as well. The Parable of the Talents is told by Jesus to His disciples to impart upon them the importance of responsibility. Each of us has been entrusted with talents(gifts) and material wealth. Everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him. As Christians, one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon us is the Word of God. We have a responsibility as Christians to share this gift with others, to multiply what God has given us in this life. Praise and thank you Lord Jesus Christ for the many talents you have so generously given to all your children! Well done, good and faithful servant!
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “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!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “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!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’