Well Done

Introduction

Over the past week, our church has grieved over the death of two members, and the father of Nyles and Dwayne Smith. As we remember Miriam Smith, Tom Jacobs, and Bro. Edward Smith, we can not help but consider the song that the choir just sung.

“Well Done” are the words that we want to hear the Savior say to us when we see Him. Today, we are honoring our graduates and I can not think of a better aspiration for all of us than to aspire to hear Jesus say two simple words when we see Him. Those words are, “Well done.”

Whether you are anticipating your high school graduation or 70 year class reunion, our desire in life should be to please the Lord. Our ambition in life should be to hear Jesus say, “Well done.”

Let’s take a few moments this morning to look at the parable that Jesus told about a man who spoke the words, “Well done” to a couple of his servants.

Matthew 25:

Matthew 25:14–30 NKJV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What is a parable?

parable

parable

■ noun a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A. (Eds.). (2004). Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Jesus often taught in parables. He used these stories to illustrate and communicate spiritual truths. As we look at a parable, we should look for the spiritual meaning of it.

Our particular parable this morning starts out by saying, “For the kingdom of heaven is like...” This parable explains to us a picture of the church when Jesus returns.

Two types of church members

All three servants were given talents or money to steward while the master was away. They were given various amounts and each were held responsible for the use of those talents. However, they used those talents in one of two ways.

Both types of

All of us have been given talents, abilities, strengths, and experiences that have prepared us to live life. While we often times dismiss these as “natural abilities,” we must realize and understand that these “natural abilities” are gifts from God.

The master gave the three servants different amounts of gifts, but held them all responsible to use their gifts.

While we may have different talents or abilities and to varying degrees, there are only two ways that we will be judged: good and faithful of unprofitable.

Good and Faithful

The Good and Faithful servants were industrious with their master’s work.

They used their gifts faithfully and diligently.

They were successful. Both the servant with the five talents and the servant with the two talents doubled their money.

The good and faithful servants heard their master say, “Well done.”

They were both made rulers of many things and were invited to “Enter into the joy of their lord.”

Unprofitable

The Unprofitable servant unconcerned with his master’s work.

The unprofitable servant found other things to do. He spent time and energy to go out and bury the Lord’s gift. While the master away, he was supposed to be about the Lord’s business, he was supposed to be increasing his master’s holdings.

After burying his master’s talent, the unprofitable servant had a lot of time on his hands since he was not working with his master’s talent.

The master called him a wicked and lazy servant.

His talent was taken away and given to another.

He was cast out to the outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Where do you fit in this parable?

Do you identify with the good and faithful servants or the unprofitable servant?

This scripture is not talking about the things of the world: wealth, possessions, influence, education, etc. It is addressing your service for the Lord.

When we come to the end of our lives, the Lord is not going to be concerned with our portfolios, transcripts, or batting averages. He is going to judge us according to what we have done for His kingdom.

Have we used the gifts and abilities that he has given us for ourselves or have we used them for Him and His kingdom?

Colossians 3:23 NKJV

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Everything we do as believers, it should be for the Lord.

Work, play, church, and even rest should all be done for the Lord.

For the true believer, pleasing the Lord is the motivation for anything and everything that you do! The two good and faithful servants used all that they had to please their master.

Are you living your life to please God or yourself?

Are you trying to please other people or are you pleasing Him?

Are you working and playing so much that you do not give the Lord the time that He requires?

If we were living our lives like the two good and faithful servants, then we would have to turn away nursery workers rather than constantly asking for more volunteers.

Rather than having a handful of people involved in the few ministries of this church, we could have hundreds involved in ministry.

If our motivation in life is anything other than to please the Lord, we need to evaluate our salvation.

The unprofitable servant was cast into the outer darkness, a place of wailing and gnashing of teeth. This place is also known as Hell.

The unprofitable servant represents someone that makes a profession of faith, but is not saved. For whatever reason, that person has become a member of a church, but they are not saved.

The unprofitable servant was not concerned for His master’s business. If you are truly saved, then you are going to be concerned about your master’s business.

How is your fruit?

Matthew 7:16–20 NKJV

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:16-

Are you bearing good fruit? Will you hear, “Well done” when Jesus returns? He is coming back.

The saved will be found working and productive and the lost church members will be found with very little. This is in no way a works based salvation. This parable tells us that we must be saved to hear “Well done.” More than just that, I believe that we should live our lives completely and totally for Christ so that when he appears, we can boldly present to Him the fruit of our labors.

I can not think of a better sound than to hear Jesus say to me, “Well done”. Whether we are graduating high school or have been retired for a long time, we should live our lives with those words in mind.

Decision

This morning, it does not matter how fruitless your past has been. What matters, is what are you going to do from this point forward. If you are not saved, you need to get saved. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There are several people here this morning that have not been working for the Lord as they should. You have been doing your own thing rather than being obedient to Christ. You need to repent and ask the Lord to forgive you. Then, you need to make a commitment this morning to do the Lord’s work and build His kingdom!