Celebrate Faithfulness!

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 

"The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money.

"After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 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.' 

"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!

"The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.'

"The master said, '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!

"Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant, and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I wold lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.'

"But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.'

"Then he ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 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. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:14-30)

1. There is a master and there are servants.
2. The master is the owner of the money.
3. The master entrusted his servants with his money.
4. Two servants were wise while one was foolish.
5. ALL the servants had to give an account to the master of how they used his money.
6. The two servants who used and invested the master's money well were praised and celebrated.
7. They were to be given more responsibilities because of their faithfulness.
7. The one who did nothing with the master's money was cursed.

As believers, we are not only the children of God, but servants of the Most High God. He has entrusted each of us with different responsibilities that are to be used for His Glory. We shouldn't envy the responsibilities that God has entrusted others, but are to simply be faithful with the responsibilities that He has entrusted us with. God will never give us greater responsibilities until we have been faithful with what He has already entrusted to us.

Faithfulness is a BIG DEAL to God. May I point out that both the servants who were wise with his money were not only praised, but celebrated!

"The master was full of praise. 'Well cone, 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!' (Matthew 25:21)

"The master said, '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!' (Matt. 25:23)

God praises and celebrates faithfulness! As a matter of fact, there will come a day when believers will hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

Have you celebrated the faithfulness of others? Regardless of how big or small their responsibilities are, have you praised and celebrated them?

God has entrusted you with a certain amount of talents, giftedness, etc. How are you using them? How are you investing them? Have you been faithful? Do you understand that one day you will give an account?

Take some time today to examine your faithfulness to God and His Kingdom as well as taking the time to praise and celebrate others faithfulness!

And to God, "Great is THY faithfulness!"