Well Done and Not So Well Done
Matthew 25:22-27 CSB
22 "The man with two talents also approached. He said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.'
23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy.'
24 "The man who had received one talent also approached and said, 'Master, I know you. You're a harsh man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
26 "His master replied to him, 'You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.
This is a portion of a well-known parable from Jesus. There is a lot we can glean from this parable. But the gist is the master giving his servants talents to work with while he is away.
When we read this parable, it's important to note that a talent was worth around twenty years' wages for a laborer. The master did not hand out a few hundred bucks; he distributed millions. Even the one-talent guy received between eight hundred thousand and one million dollars in today's money equivalent.
The master was very responsive to the servants who did a good job. They took the funds and invested, and doubled their master's money. Note that the master gave what was his to his servants. And it never was the servants' money; they were the managers only. In the end, they returned the master's money to him. And the master rewarded the good and faithful servants for a job well done. And then, because the servants were faithful with a little, they were given greater responsibility.
The one servant who hid his master's money had the wrong perception of the master. He believed the master was harsh and a thief, and out of fear hid his master's money. Not good. And the master rebuked the one servant for being evil and lazy. He, at least, should have put the money in a bank and received the interest. This servant wound up having his money taken from him and given to the one who would manage it well.
Application
I do not propose to know all that this parable signifies, but there are some principles that stand out.
The Lord gives grace to all. All of us have different gifts we can use for the kingdom. "Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others as good stewards of the varied grace of God" 1 Peter 4:10 CSB. Our assignment is to steward or manage the grace we have been given well. If we do that, then we all have the privilege of being able to stand before the Lord on that day and hear well done, good and faithful servant.
I also know that if we perceive God as harsh and one who takes from us, we will not do anything with the grace given to us. If we see our Master in a negative light, we'llnot utilize what He has given to us. But if we are faithful with the little God has given us, we will be entrusted with more. I am so grateful we have a good Master, not a harsh thief.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of being able to use the gifts You have given me for the good of others and the advancement of Your Kingdom.