The Rewards of Faithful Servants

One of the big themes of all Scipture is of rewards. Hebrews 11:6 says that those who diligently seek God are rewarded. 1 Corinthians 3:14 tells us that if we build our lives for eternity and not for the temporal things of this life we will be rewarded. Matthew 16:27 says that Jesus will reward each according to his works. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus says that He is coming again and His reward is with Him. This is only a sampling. The list could go on for pages—but a reward is a reality that each one of us is destined for.

In Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25, the Master gives talents to three of His servants. One had five, the second had two, and the third had one. Long story short: the Master leaves and tells these three servants to “do business until I get back.” Two of the three doubled what their Master gave them and were commended and given “charge over many things”, but the third one did nothing. When the Master confronted him, he said that he was afraid to do anything because he knew how the Master was. His own words condemned him because if he knew the Master, then he should have done as the Master would have wanted him to! He was punished. Let’s make a few observations about this story.

1) The amount of the talents was irrelevant. What would the Master have said to the third man if he had taken his one talent and made it into two? The same as what he said to the other two men. Even though their “talent amount” was not equal, the Master rewarded them equally. What the Master was looking for was diligence, faithfulness, obedience and growth. What is the “talent(s)” God has given you? Is it art? Singing? Teaching? Writing? What gifts of the Spirit has He given to you? What are the things He’s asked you to do with your life? What are the relationships He’s put in your hands? Do we develop those things, or ignore them? God will reward each one of us for how we steward all of those things. We mistakenly believe that the greatest rewards in Heaven are reserved for the “greats” of the faith when the fact is: those people did only as the Lord told them to do. Do not ever despise who you are and what God has given you to do. The heavenly reward is based on obedience to what God has given you to do—so be faithful!

2) The will of the Master is what mattered. The talents were given by the Master for the advancement of the Master’s purposes. We can either despise the Master’s gifts, use them for our own gain, or use them for His glory. The three men were simply told to “do business until I get back.” It is assumed that they knew the Master’s will, as the third man pointed out. Our lives are not our own. Everything we do is for His glory—and we are rewarded according to our deeds.

3) It was all a test because greater things are at stake. I believe that this parable has far more to do with Heaven and our eternal reward than it does an earthly promotion. The Master was looking for people whom He could trust with things far greater than what we have right now. God does reward us in this life, but there is so much more reality to live in once we pass into Heaven—which is more real than what we live in right now. Our highest purpose is to “reign forever and ever” with Jesus Christ, (Revelation 22:5). But before that comes, the Master, even at this moment, is testing each of us in the areas of diligence, faithfulness, and obedience. He will reward us according to our works—and if God’s giving out the rewards, then I want to receive them! Be faithful with what He has given you, whether it is little or much--there is so much more in store than we have any idea!

Blessings!

Pastor Kyle