FAITHFUL HANDS IN MINISTRY (2)

“Well done, good and FAITHFUL SERVANT; you have been FAITHFUL over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things…” – Matthew 25:23

GOD evaluates His servants mainly on the basis of FAITHFUL HANDS in MINISTRY: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT; you have been FAITHFUL over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mt.25:23b). The Parable of the Talents depicts Faithfulness as God’s fundamental standard for measuring success in stewardship and ministry. Greatness and Fame are appealing, but in God’s sight, they cannot replace Faithfulness. The master of the servant did not say, “Well done GREAT and FAMOUS servant…”! Faithfulness is one of God’s greatest virtues. Being faithful is putting our Faith into action. When we are faithful to God it means that we trust that He will care for us, we follow where He leads, and we love and obey Him in return.

The Parable summarized: A very wealthy man went on an extended trip, entrusting his talents (money) to three of his servants, based on their ability. Each talent – approximately 6.000 denarii – signified a significant sum of money. Since one denarius represented an average worker’s daily earnings, a talent would have been about 20 years wages for the average worker. The master gave five talents to the first servant, two to the second, and one to the third. The first two servants invested the funds wisely, doubling the funds entrusted to them, but the third servant, who was afraid of losing his master’s money, dug a hole and hid his talent in the ground and earned nothing. When the master returned, he rewarded the two who invested his money, but severely punished the servant who kept the money safe but unproductive.

This parable applies to all of us today. The Lord expects His children to be good and faithful servants. God knows our capabilities. We don’t all have the same measure of grace. He doesn’t expect the same results from all of us, but to do something good with the talents – gifts, potentials, resources – that we are given. Though the third servant, using his hands, expended much labour to dig the ground, his labour was useless and in vain. God most certainly wants us to do more than bury our talents in the ground. He has given each and every one of us a variety of gifts, and He expects us to use those gifts in His service. Although the church is one unified body, each of its members has a special gift or ability to be used to minister to God and others, for the good and growth of all. Everyone is important to building others up.

The faithful person exemplifies the Character of God. Faithfulness is being loyal, steadfast, and dependable. For the New Creation in Christ, faithfulness is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life – the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5: 22-23). Being faithful confirms we are true believers. We receive commendation rather than condemnation (vv.21,23). Are we walking on the path of faithfulness? Are we faithful with what God entrusted in our care? Joseph, a notable biblical model, remained faithful to God in the face of temptation (Gen.39: 2-12).

When we walk on the path of faithfulness and live in the centre of God’s Will, we’re assured of the blessed life: “A faithful man will abound with BLESSINGS…” (Pro.28:20a). We would “find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (Pro.3:4). Faithfulness leads to promotion in God’s Kingdom: “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Lk.16: 10-12).

Ultimately, eternal rewards are promised to those who faithfully serve Christ, even onto death: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev.2:10b).