Bishop Keith Butler
Mar 5
Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. (Luke 19:16-19)
In the parable of the talents in Luke 19, Jesus gave us a revelation about stewardship and faithfulness with what God gives us. In the story, Jesus said the master trusted his servants to take care of different amounts of money. What the master gave symbolizes the resources, gifts, and opportunities God gives to each of us. It’s important to note that the focus of this parable is not simply about having material wealth but about investing in the opportunities, resources, gifts, and people God has placed in our lives as well.
The first servant multiplied his one pound into ten. When he had done so, the master was pleased with him saying, “Well done, good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” This perfectly illustrates a kingdom principle: when you’re faithful in the small matters God gives you, you will be blessed with greater responsibilities and rewards in the future.
The second servant ended up multiplying his one pound into five. He also received the same honor and celebration from their master for his stewardship and obedience.
However, the third servant was different. Instead of seeing the opportunity and being honored with what he was given, this servant buried his talent out of fear, laziness, and a lack of initiative. When he gave back his talent, the master's response was harsh. He was called a wicked and unprofitable servant.
What has God given to you, and how are you investing it? It could be your time, talents, relationships, or resources. In all of them, God expects you to be diligent and productive for the Kingdom.