Oh how we all yearn to hear the Master call us, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ But what must we do to hear those joyful words? The Parable of the Talents teaches us on how we are to be faithful stewards and disciples while we expectantly wait for the return of Christ – our Master.

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• Enabled with resources/talents: The master prior to his departure provided each servant with five, two and one talents, each accordingly to his ability (Vs 15). Similarly, the Lord has equipped us with various resources – talents, money, time and abilities. The impartial Master has given each, diverse talents according to our capabilities. The question we need to ask ourselves is – are we utilizing our every talent to the maximum potential in service for the Lord? For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

• Entrusted with responsibility: With the endowed talents comes a responsibility to optimize it for God’s glory. The servants who received the five and two talents worked diligently to maximise the returns. In Luke 19:13, the master tells the servants, ‘Put this money to work, until I come back.’ Similarly, we have the responsibility to make the best use of our time, money and skills, as faithful stewards, to serve and honour God. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  ……so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ... (1 Peter 4:10-11)

• Ensure accountability: Just as the three servants were asked to provide an account of the talents given to them, on Christ’s return we will be held accountable for the talents assigned to us. Therefore, knowing the magnitude of the responsibly and the accountability we have to give, let us not waste any opportunity in sharing the Good News, being kind and loving, encouraging and building up lives and serving others, in all things giving glory to God.

• Have the right perspective: Our perception of the Master will affect our productivity for Him. The servants who were entrusted five and two talents, perceived their master to be loving and generous and laboured faithfully and diligently to honour the master with a double return. The third servant was ungrateful and lazy, perceiving his master to be a hard man and did nothing with the resources entrusted to him. Unless we recognize and acknowledge that our life and every talent we posses is a generous gift from God – one which we are so unworthy of, our perception of this loving and kind Master and our service to Him will not be productive.

• Expect the reward: There is a reward for our service at the Lord’s return. If we labor diligently like the servants who fulfilled their responsibilities, we will be commended by the Master: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  But the one, who chooses to waste his time and resources, will be cast out.  ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, …but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Vs 29)

As the coming of the Lord is imminent, there is no time to be wasted in idleness and procrastination. Are we making the most of every skill and resource for advancing God’s kingdom? If we have wasted our resources on selfish desires, ask the Lord’s forgiveness and make every effort to put our talents to work that we may enter into the joy of our Master.

Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, I thank you for every talent that you have blessed me with. Forgive me for the resources unwisely wasted and enable me to use every talent to the best of my abilities for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen