Master & Servant

By Pastor Alex Ruelo

Some people think that their life is very easy. Some people have a very difficult time. Some get sick but some are very strong. Some live up to 100 years and some are not even born.

The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy that is written by a Christian author. It is about Frodo Baggins, who is on a journey to destroy a ring that makes him think and do evil things. He is accompanied hy his friend Sam, who vowed never to leave him even when Frodo tries to get rid of him in the process.

Matthew 25 is a parable that talks about a master and his servants. He leaves with his servants bags of gold depending on their ability. One put the bags of gold to work and gained more. Another one gained teo more. But the last servant burried the bag of gold in the ground and did nothing. When the master returned, he settled accounts with them. He was happy with the two servants who made their gold work for them and doubled their responsibilities. The one who buried the gold was banished and the gold taken away from him.

I do not know what God has entrusted you with. Maybe He gave you wealth, talents or people. These are all gifts of God. Even the little things are God’s gift to us. He entrusted them to us therefore, we need to be good and faithful stewards.

WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS?

1. They are blessed with abilities.

2. They are smart.

3. They know what their master wants.

4. They are hard workers.

5. There were blessed with more.

WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT?

1. He is blessed with an ability.

2. He was entrusted with a bag of gold.

3. He did not have any intention to grow.

4. He is proud.

5. He does not know what his master wants.

6. He is lazy.

7. He is a coward who is full of excuses.

8. He was punished.

Life Lessons

1. Life is peaceful when you obey the master. (V.20) - Obedience brings blessings, the Bible says. Be faithful so that you have peace. When you do what your flesh dictates you to do, there is war, James said. Being right with the Lord will give you peace. While you disobey, you will not have peace.

2. Your ability depends on your will. (V.15) - You cannot help someone who does not want to help themself. You need to make a choice to grow and invest in yourself.

3. A long time is not forever. (V.19) - You can get tired of waiting or you will get caught up in your hypocrisy. Serving the Lord may take a long time. It will last even until eternity. It’s either your labor will end and you will be rewarded or you can pretend to be serving and you will be punished. Be real because Jesus will come and we have to give account of everything that we did. If we are faithful with all the things He has given us, we will be rewarded.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Wait for your time. (V. 21 & 23) - The master said the same thing to the two servants. No matter how much is given to you and to others, the heart is the same. If you are faithful and you feel like you are not appreciated or not being used to the best of your ability, wait because your time will come. When you deserve it, God will give you what you deserve. He will reward you for your faithfulness.

2. Know your place. - Are you a servant or the master? Who sits on the throne? The master or you? Jesus is the best example of being a servant. He came and followed what the Father asked Him to do. He followed, He obeyed and He sacrificed His life until death. Romans 6:17-18 says, “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

The word “doulos” means servant. The servant that Scripture is talking about is not the slave the we all k ow and see in the movies. Being the slave of God means prioritizing God’s will above all else, seeking to please Him above all else. Romans 6:19-21 says, “I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!”

3. Serve even if. (V.14) - Serve where you are. You can do one thing or another. Do it. Anywhere. Everywhere. Serve to be able to enlarge God’s territory. Don’t just serve because it is convenient. Serve Him with all your heart and mind and strength.

God wants us. He does not need anything else. Give all you can and all you have. Do not give the Lord anything that costs you nothing.