This is the third in a series. Part 1 and Part 2 can be found here.
The reward for competent stewardship
Jesus continued the Parable of the Talents.
He said that “immediately” the one who had received the $5 million did business with it and made $5 million more. The servant proved himself as skilled as his master knew him to be. His master rewarded him by putting him in charge of many more things.
“In the same manner” the servant who was given $2 million, did business and gained $2 million more. He too was productive with what he had been given and the master rewarded him with responsibility over many things.
The master gave both responsibility according to their ability and then rewarded both according to their performance—what they did with what they were given. There was also something else both received, and that was joy (Matthew 25:21, 23).
The Lord rewards our good stewardship not only tangibly but emotionally. I think that is why, after I have tried a good case or drafted a persuasive brief, I feel something deeper and more exhilarating than the satisfaction of a completed task. I feel the joy of an approving Father.
The judgment on poor stewardship
However, the servant who was given $1 million did nothing with what he was given.
He had his excuses for his poor work—people always do. He was afraid. His master was too hard on him. His master was exploiting him.
He essentially said to his master, “Here, I didn’t lose what you gave me.” And that’s how many Christians approach their work. They are content with having kept their job, provided for their family, and tithed to their church. There is little thought of improving their skill or excelling at their craft so they can be given more responsibility.
In response, the master said that even if all those things were true, they weren’t excuses for not doing good work. The master told the servant that if all he had done was put the money in the bank to gain interest, that would have been better than doing nothing with it.
Which of the servants are we modeling?
But that’s how so many of us think about our work. We punch the clock in the morning, put in our time, and punch out at 5 p.m., figuring we’ve done what was required of us. We don’t think about how we can develop our innate ability or get the most out of the vocational opportunity the Lord has given us.
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ — Matthew 25:26–28
Jesus goes on. He says that the master had the $1 million taken away from the servant and given to the servant who now had $10 million. That may seem unfair, but competent stewardship, not fairness, is the standard in the kingdom of God. The Lord expects us to develop the ability He has entrusted to us.
And just in case, we haven’t yet picked up on the moral of this story, before He finishes the parable, Jesus underlines the point:
For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. — Matthew 25:29
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus demonstrated that competent stewardship in our work is not just rewarded, it is what God requires of those who purport to serve Him.
Click here for Part 4 of the series. GS
