Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Different—or the Same?

 

Different—or the Same?

(Jesus said) "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'"

— Matthew 25:14-23

Have you ever wondered about the different amounts in this story? The master gives one servant five talents, another two, and yet another just one. The servants, of course, are us, and the master is Jesus. He has left us to invest everything He has given us—our gifts and talents, our blessings, and most of all, the Gospel message of His salvation. When Jesus comes back, He will settle accounts with us.

So far, so good. But it's clear that we servants aren't all starting with the same amount of assets, either in the parable or in real life. Some of us are born with good health and high intelligence, in loving families in safe communities. Some of us have exactly the opposite. Is that fair?

It's easy to get cranky with God and say, "No, it's not fair. So-and-so has more than me. I am angry, and I refuse to do my job as a servant."

But if we do that, we are missing the point of the story. Look again. The first two servants do exactly the same thing: they put the money to work and they make a profit. Each has a different size profit, of course, as you'd expect. But when the master comes back, his joy is identical. He says exactly the same thing to both of them: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

This is how it is for us as well. It doesn't matter if we are the apostle Paul, or the poorest, sickest, most disadvantaged creatures on earth. In God's eyes, what we have is a little, no more. What matters is our faithfulness to the Savior who died and rose for us. And what we have to look forward to—ah, now that will be wonderful! When Jesus returns, He will set us over much, and we will enter into Jesus' own joy. That is His plan for every single one of us.

Lord, help me to be faithful to You, always looking forward to Your joy. Amen.

Dr. Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you taken something small—money, seeds, a talent—and turned it into much?

2. What do you have, and how are you serving the Lord with it?

3. What did Jesus start out with, and what profit has He made through His faithful service to God the Father?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Have you ever wondered about the different amounts in this story? The master gives one servant five talents, another two, and yet another just one. The servants, of course, are us, and the master is Jesus.