How to Hear “Well Done”

From Matthew 25:21(NKJV), “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter in the joy of your lord.”

Matthew 25:22-23, He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.  His Lord said to him, ““Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter in the joy of your lord.”

Matthew 25:24, Then he who had received the one talent (gold coin) came to the Lord.  “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where  you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  Verses 25-28, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground..  Look, there you have what is yours.”  Verse 26, “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 interest.  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.”

This teaching parable (lesson) by Jesus is used to illustrate profitable(faith) and unprofitable (unfaithful) servants.

First, let’s understand who we are as servants? Any person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior is a servant of God.  Jesus commissioned His followers to lead others to Him – Jesus the Christ.  This makes us ‘SERVANT LEADERS’ of the true and risen Savior. 

Each of us have been given the talent to bring others to Christ by our confession and as witnesses.  Although we are many members and have different gifts, we are one (II Corinthians 12). Do not hid your talent – it is gold!

One of the reasons that I was led to write, “Servant Leadership NOW: Stepping Up Your Leadership Call,” is because there are those who feel that they are not leaders unless they have a title i.e., Apostle, Pastor, Deacon, Youth Minister, Financial Secretary, etc.  Yes, the bible tells us that some are called into specific offices of church leadership (Ephesians 4); however, all of us are called to serve and lead for the Kingdom because all have received grace.  Too many people think that they must operate out of title in order to serve and lead; but Christ died and rose, equipping us to serve and lead out of love for Him.  That is how we will hear the words, “Well Done.”

In the above parable, the one who chose to hide his talent, chose wrongly. God has promised that our gifts will make room for us (Proverbs 18:16).  We must use the opportunity that God has given us to serve in different arenas. 

As the church is rebuilding (restructuring) to find ways to carryout THE MISSION, in this season of COVID-19, we are finding opportunities to be even a greater positive influence in the world.  This is not a time to hide because you only have one talent; rather, cease this opportunity to multiply that one talent. This is the choice between faith and unfaithful (profitable or unprofitable). If we fail to see that God multiplies because of faithfulness, we will not receive the abundance. 

Finally, what is in your hand? In Exodus 4:2, God put that question to Moses.  “Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”  “A staff,” he replied. I encourage you to use your staff (talent) as a faithful servant.  If you have a kind word to speak, use it.  If you have to reach out to that senior citizen, do it.  If you have to stand up for the helpless, use your talent to do so.  We aim to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter in the joy of your lord.”