Be Faithful and Anticipate the Reward

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 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!’ ”
(Matthew 25:20-21)    
     Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

         I read somewhere that Billy Graham was once asked who he thought was the most successful Christian who ever lived. He answered to the effect, “Probably some elderly lady nobody ever heard of, who served faithfully in her church and community.” The point made was that God’s view of success is not the same as the world’s view of success. One might think that the servant who increased the talents he was entrusted with would be given a greater reward than others, but that was not the case. In the parable, Jesus had the master use the exact same words to the one who had been given two talents as he said to the one who had been given five. (see Matthew 25:23)
       The focus of the reward was not on the size of the increase. It was on the faithfulness of the servant. In the Kingdom of God, faithfulness to Christ is the most important thing God wants us to give. He is the one responsible for producing fruit. We are responsible for planting the seeds and being ready to help harvest the fruit. Anticipate the reward of hearing “Well done” and be faithful to Christ in all you do.  

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)