Well done!

Sunday at church the message was about accountability and the Pastor referenced the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I’ve heard this story many times and this particular day it was especially beautiful.

A short video was shown of the parable and that brought the message to life. After the first servant brought the talents to the master and showed how he had increased the amount 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.

He put his arm around the servant and invited him in to celebrate. Then the second servant came and reported that he too had increased what had been entrusted to him and the response was the same, “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 part the really touched me was the expression on the master’s face. It was so loving and sincere for both servants. There was no difference for the servant with five talents than the servant with two talents. In the beginning of the parable it said that he entrusted his property to them, each according to his ability. He doesn’t have favorites and He is truly proud of us when we use the talents He has given us for Him.

This is such a contrast from the world we live in where favoritism and performance is rampant. The better you do and the more you have, the more you are accepted. It’s a never ending battle to stay on top.

But with God it’s completely different. He gave us our talents according to our abilities. In our eyes someone else may have more, but in God’s eyes we have exactly what we need to accomplish what He has given us to do.

The Pastor stated it well, “Become the best possible version of you.” The way to do that is to take our eyes off of what others have and see ourselves the way that God sees us. He placed us right where we are suppose to be, with the talents needed for our lives and the opportunities to use them to bring Glory to God.

Sometimes I’m in awe of believers who can boldly share their faith with complete strangers. Of pastors and teachers with the ability to share a message that touches deep in my soul. And believers that are always available in a moments notice to help and comfort those in need.

I need to remember that it’s not a competition. It’s the church working together to serve God’s purpose. The bible says, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12: 4-5.

When I do my part using the talents that God entrusted to me, then I become the best possible version of me and I fulfill the purpose that God gave me. I get many opportunities to encourage other along the way and I hope that I make the most of those opportunities so that someday, we will all hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” And I know that the smile on the Lord’s face will be just as sincere for me as it will be for everyone else.

Until that day, I pray that we will encourage each other and remember that our Lord has placed us in this time, this place, for these moments and that we make the most of them. We get to do life together and someday, we will be invited to share in the Master’s happiness.

My Prayer

Father, thank you for the talents that You have given each of us. Help us to see them as You do and to use them for You. Remove thoughts of envy and jealousy and replace them with thoughts of encouragement and unity. Your love for us is amazing and endless. To see Your face and hear Your voice will be such an incredible moment. Let our goal be to hear those words from You, “Well done.” In Jesus’s name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Matthew 25:21

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.

Romans 12:4-5

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.