The Profitable Servant

In Sunday school today the topic of study was Matthew 25, in which several of the parables of Jesus were taught. The one which specifically impressed upon my mind was the parable of the talents, in which a master goes away and leaves a certain stewardship with three of his servants. Five, two and one talent to each respectively. Upon the master's return each of the servants is called to account for the stewardship given him.

The first two servants are glad to report that they have doubled the value of the talents given them, but the third servant returned only that which the Master had given him. The Master lavishes the wealth created by the servants upon each of them and makes them rulers in His kingdom. But the "unprofitable" servant is stripped of that which he was given and his talent was given to the servant with ten talents.

What was the difference between the three servants? The first two took the initiative to put their masters money to work, taking the risk that it could be lost. The unprofitable servant let fear stop him from trying to increase his master's money. How often do we allow ourselves, out of fear of loss, to do nothing with that which we have been given to do?

It occurred to me that we have been given a stewardship, whatever that may be, and God doesn't care if we fail in it as long as we make a serious effort to improve it. True growth comes only when fear of the unknown is pushed aside and we move forward in the faith that the outcome will be for the best. Edison tried a thousand different combinations before he found one that worked in the invention of the light bulb, but there was not a single failure in his mind, only progress toward the desired end.

If life doesn't seem to be working out as planned, just keep working through it with the faith that where you are going will lead you in the direction you need to take. Keep learning all you can and doing your best and the Master will say to you at the time of accounting, "well done thou good and faithful servant."