Scripture – ““Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.’ “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!’ “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.’ “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!’ “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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “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? 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. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
Observation – A man went on a journey and entrusted his assets to three of his servants. Two were faithful and one was “wicked and lazy”. The faithful servants were rewarded and the unfaithful servant was punished.
Application – The outcome for all three servants apply to our lives on earth and what happens in eternity. When we are faithful with our time, abilities and resources on earth we lead meaningful lives that please God and impact other people, the result is a reward from God in heaven. When we are concerned only for ourselves and use our time, talents and treasures to take care of ourselves with little or no regard for God and others we live lives of quiet desperation and God punishes us in eternity. If you are a follower of Christ take an inventory of your life and see if you are faithful or wicked and lazy? How are you investing or wasting the 168 hours he gives you each week? Are you serving your clients well, your family, neighbors and friends or are you using all of your time to satisfy yourself. Are you taking full advantage of the gifts God has given you to bring him glory and to help others or are the gathering dust? What does your checkbook, debit card statement and credit card statement tell God about what is valuable to you? The best time to find out you are living the wrong way is today so you can fix it. If your calendar and monthly financials reflect a selfish life confess this to Jesus and ask him to show you the good works he wants you to do that he has prepared in advance for you to do. God made you to be an instrument for his glory, when you live like this you will be filled with purpose, joy and hope!
Prayer – Dear God, give us all the desire to use everything you have entrusted us with for your glory. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 