Matthew 25:14-30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “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!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “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!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [1]
____________
This parable continues the theme of the previous, that we are to be active and productive while we watch for our Lord’s return in glory. Central to this parable is importance of seeing all that we are and all that we have as the wealth of the Lord that has been entrusted to us.
This perspective changes everything. All of my possessions, including my life, my time, my education, my experiences, and my possessions, are much more than merely things I possess or accumulate. They are actually the wealth of God entrusted to me.
And for what purpose have they been entrusted? Not for my own use or glorification or convenience. They have been entrusted to me for the sake of the Master. I am called to use what has been entrusted to me for His glory, for His Kingdom, and for His will. Please note that these three items (glory, kingdom and will) constitute the subject of the first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer. As our Lord leads us in prayer each day through this prayer, we are reminded to employ all that has been entrusted to us for the sake of the Master, not ourselves.
Almighty Father, I praise you for entrusting to me Your wealth. Help me to so live today as to hallow Your Name, seek Your Kingdom, and carry out Your will.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
To subscribe to Abide Daily Devotion e-mail please click here
[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Mt 25:14–30). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Leave a Reply