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Good and Faithful Servants

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a man who was going on a journey. Before he left, he called his servants together and gave them some money to look after until his return. “To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents … said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. 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 the two talents also came.’Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'… His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!

"Then the man who had received the one talent came… I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant… you should have [at least] put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest” (selected verses from 14-30).

Why do we always focus on the “one talent man” and his failure in this story? Are there not actually three servants? Certainly, the one talent man failed and his lack of effort is the primary warning for us. However, two thirds of the people in this parable were successful and praised for what they did. Seen from the perspective of the five and two talent men, this story is not about “failure” but about “opportunity”. It is about hope. It is about the promise of God that says, “If you try, something good will happen”.

The fact is that, when it comes to “talents” and giftedness, every one of us has something to share and something to offer. The question is not “What can you do?” but rather, “Will you do it?”

Focus on the success of the two servants who used what they had been given. Think about how, down through time, God has used ordinary people to do extraordinary things (if they just let him). Think about what could happen if we just trusted God enough to try.

In the end, maybe we too will hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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