MATTHEW 25:15-23 – To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
THEME OF THE DAY. WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. It is the heart desire of every Christian. It is one of the greatest motivators to live the Christian life. When we reach the end of our life, unless Jesus comes, it will be the most precious thing said at our funeral. When we see Jesus, it will be the most important words we may hear. These words are – “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And here is the thrilling part . . . there is only one person who has the power to prevent us from hearing these words. That person is ourselves. It is the individual we greet in the mirror at the dawn of each day. No situation, no environment, no location, no circumstance, and no person is able to stop us from building a life of faithfulness to hear from our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Yet, we must not underestimate the power of the person we see in the mirror and his or her ability to keep us from hearing those beautiful words. Let’s consider three things our flesh may do to disqualify us from receiving this affirmation from the Lord Jesus.
First, the flesh will allow us to commit the sin of procrastination. There is no such thing as future faithfulness. We are faithful today and only today. We do good works in Jesus’ name today. We obey His command to love His people today. We encourage fellow warriors in the Christian battle today. We say “no” to sin today. We deny ourselves for Jesus and His church today. The founder of English Puritanism, William Perkins, said, “Fools are always futuring.” And it is the height of folly, foolishness, and committing the sin of presumption if we put off knowing what God commands of us today to a not promised tomorrow (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Next, the flesh will give excuses for delaying faithful obedience to God’s command with words like, “When I get through this season of life, I will have more time” or “I just have too much on my plate right now for serving God’s people.” Be careful here. Read this account of Jesus dialoguing with would be disciples (Luke 9:57-62). They each gave Him a “legitimate excuse” for delay in following Him. However, it was only legitimate in their eyes. Jesus did not accept any excuse for delayed obedience. Just think of the seriousness of procrastination and excuse-making. What if tomorrow doesn’t come to us? The time to labor to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” will be over.
Finally, the flesh will always put the things of the world ahead of the things of the Lord. Pleasures, hobbies, recreation, entertainment, education, and even our families, will scream loud for the lion’s share of our time. And should this worldly imbalance occur, we will be too exhausted, too distracted, and sadly, the things of the Lord neglected and the day’s opportunity to build a life of hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant” forfeited.
They are the greatest words we may ever hear from the Lord Jesus. Let’s make sure the man or woman in the mirror doesn’t prevent us from living life so we may hear them.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see and then do the good works You ordained for me at salvation”
QUOTE: “Christians are to be knowing truth and then doing truth. The knowing only Christian doesn’t exist”