Day 32 - Well Done

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 25:19-21
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

DEVOTION
Our scripture this morning picks up where we left off yesterday. Jesus is telling a parable of a certain master departing and leaving three servants in change. Each servant was given a different financial blessing depending upon his ability. The servants were tasked with stewarding, or managing, the money they had been given. However, when the master returned two of the servants were found faithful, doubling what they had been given. The other servant buried his money because he was scared of the master. 

The two servants that were found faithful received the same blessing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” While one servant gave the Master double of what the other servant provided, they both received the same blessing. This shows us that God desires faithfulness not remarkableness. Some followers of Jesus have been given great talent or wealth, while others have little talent and few financial possessions; the message is not about what you have been given, but rather what you do with what you have been given. 

We are blessed with so many servants at Church at the Grove that use the talents and gifts they have been given to benefit God’s Kingdom. People like Mrs. Claudia Anderson and Robyn Johnson who have administrative gifts and faithfully serve with office tasks to help the church operate. Edwin and Lynn Smith are servants at our Social Circle Campus that each week purchase snacks, make coffee, and create a welcoming hospitality area on Sunday mornings. Larry Potts has been at Church at the Grove for over a decade, and has one of the biggest hearts for people. Larry has a habit of meeting people that are struggling, he buys food for them, brings them to church, and helps provide for their basic needs. Holly Robbins has an incredible gift of decorating and creating hospitable environments and she faithfully uses that gift in our Thrive Women’s ministry each month. There are many other stories we could share of people who are faithful with their gifts and use them for the benefit of the kingdom, but the point is faithfulness. Some people can speak or sing from a stage, while others are incredible builders, we are all called to be faithful with what we have been given. 

The last servant who didn’t use his wealth, but rather buried it because he was afraid is cursed by the Master, who says, ‘‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” There is a curse that is placed upon the last servant because he was unfaithful with what he had been given. Not only was his one talent taken away from him but he is also called, “useless” and thrown into the outer darkness. This is what happens to the person that has been blessed and isn’t faithful in using the blessing to build the Kingdom of God.

ACTION STEP
Every follower of Jesus has been blessed with certain talents and gifts that are to be used to build God’s kingdom. We are called to be good stewards with the things that Master has put in our hands until he returns. What are the talents and resources that God has placed in your hands? Are you using them faithfully to build God’s kingdom and be a blessing to others? 

If you are unaware of what spiritual gifts you may have, we have a simple online test you can take by visiting, www.churchatthegrove.com/become

PRAYER TIME
Lord Jesus, I thank you that you have blessed me in countless ways. Help me to not only understand how you have blessed me but also how I am supposed to steward those blessings to bring honor to you and love people around me well.