Sunday Class @ 9am; Worship @ 10am & 5pm
Articles
“Well Done”
In Matthew 25:14-30 Christ tells the story of the kingdom of heaven in terms of a man traveling into a far country and leaving the works and responsibilities of the farm to servants. It is a story of opportunities and challenges. It is a story of slothfulness. It is a story of a master reckoning with his servants.
Jesus has left the work of His kingdom in the hands of men. Christians are continually on trial. His kingdom is to be operated efficiently and profitably. Will we meet the test? Will He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? It will be quite revealing when Jesus returns and we meet Him in the air to give account of the things done in His kingdom. What will we say to Him? More importantly, what will He say to us?
I am reminded of the account of the man who received the standing applause of the audience after his concert, but he wept because one man did not applaud. That man was his music instructor. Though we have the applause of all men, the only one that will count is our Master and Teacher.
For Him to say “Well done” indicates that we have been busily (and productively - TN) at work. Those to whom He will say “Well done” are those who had certain abilities and were given certain opportunities, and they accomplished them. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:10, “As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” A man’s duty is measured by the ability he has and the opportunities that are presented.
Mary was criticized when she anointed the body of Jesus with precious ointment, but Jesus commended her by saying, “She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8). This is all that Christ requires of us... what we can do.
If we do what we can, if we put our hands to the plow and keep them there until the job is done, our blessed Lord will say to us in that day, “Well done.” A “good and faithful servant” is the one who faithfully discharges his duties as a steward of his master.
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Preacher’s point – The fact that the master says “well done” indicates two things. First, it indicates something must be done. It is not enough simply to avoid the bad; we must also do the good. Also, it indicates something must be done well. We cannot approach our service to God in a half-hearted manner. If we love Him with all our heart (Matt. 22:37), then we will serve Him with all our heart. Will you be told “well done”?
