Well Done
READ
Imagine receiving a text from your boss saying, "I'm going out of town for a while. I'm leaving you in charge of my most valuable assets. Do whatever you think is best." How would you feel? Honored? Terrified? Both? This is exactly the situation Jesus describes in the parable of the talents, and it reveals something profound about what faithfulness looks like.
Let’s take a moment to read Matthew 25:14-23:
“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!’
REFLECT
The master in this story doesn't give detailed instructions or create elaborate monitoring systems. He simply entrusts his wealth to his servants based on their abilities and leaves. This speaks to something incredible about God's relationship with us—He trusts us. He has given each of us gifts, abilities, opportunities, and resources, and He trusts us to use them faithfully while He's "away."But here's what's easy to miss: faithfulness isn't measured by the amount we're given or even the amount we produce. The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents both received identical praise: "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Faithfulness is about what we do with what we've been given, not about comparing ourselves to others or wishing we had different gifts.
The faithful servants understood something crucial: what they had wasn't really theirs. They were stewards, not owners. This perspective changed everything about how they approached their responsibilities. They didn't hoard what they'd been given out of fear, and they didn't waste it on themselves. They invested it, multiplied it, and were ready to give an account when the master returned. This is what faithful stewardship looks like in our lives. Whether it's our time, talents, money, relationships, or opportunities, we hold them with open hands, knowing they ultimately belong to God. We don't live in fear of losing them, but we don't waste them either. We invest them in ways that honor God and benefit His kingdom.
The servant who buried his talent reveals the opposite of faithfulness: fear-based living. He was so afraid of making a mistake that he made the biggest mistake of all—doing nothing. How often do we bury our talents because we're afraid of failure, criticism, or not being good enough? Faithfulness means taking God-honoring risks with what He's entrusted to us.
Notice that the master's absence wasn't a test to see if his servants would mess up; it was an opportunity for them to grow in responsibility and experience his joy. God doesn't leave us alone to see if we'll fail. He gives us space to learn, to take steps of faith, and to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from faithful stewardship. The phrase "faithful with a few things" is key. Faithfulness is often demonstrated in small, seemingly insignificant moments. It's being trustworthy with the $20 in your wallet, the hour of free time in your schedule, the conversation with your neighbor, or the opportunity to encourage someone. These "little things" are actually preparation for greater responsibility.
What makes this parable so encouraging is that both faithful servants were invited to "share your master's happiness." Faithfulness leads to joy—not just our joy, but God's joy. When we live as faithful stewards, we get to participate in the satisfaction that comes from seeing God's kingdom advance through our lives.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
What specific gifts, resources, or opportunities has God entrusted to you that you might be "burying" out of fear?
How does viewing yourself as a steward rather than an owner change your perspective on your time, money, and abilities?
In what small, everyday areas is God inviting you to be more faithful so He can trust you with greater things?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord, thank You for trusting me with the gifts and opportunities You've placed in my life. Help me see myself as a faithful steward rather than a fearful owner. Give me courage to invest what You've given me for Your kingdom's sake, knowing that You delight in faithful service. Show me the small ways I can be trustworthy today so that I might experience the joy of faithful stewardship. Amen.