When the Master returns for an account
(Mathew 25:14-15, 19-21)
In the midst of many ups and downs of 2023, we have come this far because of the abundant grace bestowed upon us by God. There is nothing we can give in return for His immeasurable grace except gratitude. As we conclude this year, we hope to introspect and assess whether we have lived a life marked by joyful commitment to the love and blessings bestowed upon us by God, and if we have faithfully adhered to the mission entrusted to us by Him.
1. The Master who entrusted his possessions
When one master departed for a foreign country, he entrusted his servants with talents, giving five talents of money to one, two talents to another, and one talent to another according to his ability (Matthew 25:15). When we consider that time period, one talent was a substantial amount, equivalent to the daily wage of a laborer at that time, which was one denarius, received for 6000 days. The talents they received represent the distinct missions entrusted to each of us by God when we accept Jesus as our Savior and experience salvation. As followers of Christ, regardless of where we are or with whom and what we are facing with this world, we should fully commit ourselves to the responsibilities and the tasks assigned to us similar to that of servants in the parable. By living this way, we can anticipate great praise before God in the future.
2. Praise for the faithful stewards
When the master returned to settle accounts, the servants who had been entrusted with five talents and two talents reported that they had each gained double the amount through the master’s entrusted possessions (Matthew 25:20,22). Their report included a deep sense of gratitude, recognizing that their ability to gain the master’s approval and achieve success was due to the master’s trust and property. The master, pleased, praised the honest and faithful servants (Matthew 25:31,23). Similarly, may we, as Christians, persistently fulfill the missions entrusted to us by God throughout our lives, eagerly looking forward to participating in the glorious banquet in the kingdom upon the return of our Lord Jesus.
3. The wicked and lazy servant
The servant, who had received one talent, however, lived his days aimlessly, without any intention of working. When the master returned, he retrieved the buried talent from the ground. His excuse was that he was afraid of the master, so he did nothing to avoid any potential risk or loss (Mathew 25:24-25). Instead of accepting this excuse, the master rebuked and expelled the servant, calling him a “wicked and lazy servant” (Mathew 25:26-30). Similarly, each of us has a mission entrusted by God. As we earnestly hope to be praised by the Lord as “Well done, good and faithful servant” when the Lord settles accounts, let us express gratitude in all things and strive to act faithfully in all circumstances.