"{The kingdom of heaven is} like a man leaving home to travel to another place for a visit. Before the man left, he talked with his servants. The man told his servants to take care of the things he owned while he was gone. He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags of money. And he gave a third servant one bag of money. Then that man left. The servant that got five bags of money went quickly to invest the money. Those five bags of money earned five more. It was the same with the servant that had two bags of money. That servant invested the money and earned two more. But the servant that got one bag of money went away and dug a hole in the ground. Then the servant hid his master's money in that hole. "After a long time the master came home. The master asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant that got five bags of money brought five more bags of money to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of money. So I used your five bags of money to earn five more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with that small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags of money to earn two more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with a small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.'"
—Matthew 25:14-23
Key Thought
We love grandiose plans, huge accomplishments and impossible goals. But leadership in the Kingdom is about faithfulness. It was important to Jesus that leaders be proven in their faithfulness before they served. Faithfulness in big things happen only when faithfulness in small things has been demonstrated.
This trial by faithfulness is crucial because the Kingdom needs leaders who serve out of a sense of honor and humility and faithfulness in small things becomes a way of shaking out false motives and showing the genuineness of a servant's heart. It also helps God's servants learn the skills of service before facing the full assault of Satan's attacks!
Today's Prayer
O Lord God Almighty, King of the Ages, please raise up men and women in your Kingdom who have a heart to serve no matter the task. Please give us leaders who know Jesus from the shadow of his cross and not just the glory of his power. And Father, gently cleanse my heart of pride and ego as I seek to grow and mature as a faithful servant for your glory and the growth of your Kingdom. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags of money. And he gave a third servant one bag of money. Then that man left. The servant that got five bags of money went quickly to invest the money. Those five bags of money earned five more. It was the same with the servant that had two bags of money. That servant invested the money and earned two more. But the servant that got one bag of money went away and dug a hole in the ground. Then the servant hid his master's money in that hole. "After a long time the master came home. The master asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant that got five bags of money brought five more bags of money to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of money. So I used your five bags of money to earn five more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with that small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags of money to earn two more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with a small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got one bag of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, I knew that you were a very hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not put any seed. So I was afraid. I went and hid your money in the ground. Here is the one bag of money you gave me.' "The master answered, 'You are a bad and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant, and that I gather crops where I did not put any seed. So youshould have put my money in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would get my money back. And I would also get the interest that my money earned.' "{So the master told his other servants,} 'Take the one bag of money from that servant and give it to the servant that has ten bags of money. Every person that uses what he has will get more. That person will have much more than he needs. But the person that does not use what he has will have everything taken away from him.' Then the master said, 'Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness! In that place people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.'Matthew 25:15-30
Related Scripture Readings
— Matt. 23:8-12
— 1 Tim. 3:1-13
— Matt. 24:45-47
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 25:14-23
Key Thought
We love grandiose plans, huge accomplishments and impossible goals. But leadership in the Kingdom is about faithfulness. It was important to Jesus that leaders be proven in their faithfulness before they served. Faithfulness in big things happen only when faithfulness in small things has been demonstrated.
This trial by faithfulness is crucial because the Kingdom needs leaders who serve out of a sense of honor and humility and faithfulness in small things becomes a way of shaking out false motives and showing the genuineness of a servant's heart. It also helps God's servants learn the skills of service before facing the full assault of Satan's attacks!
Today's Prayer
O Lord God Almighty, King of the Ages, please raise up men and women in your Kingdom who have a heart to serve no matter the task. Please give us leaders who know Jesus from the shadow of his cross and not just the glory of his power. And Father, gently cleanse my heart of pride and ego as I seek to grow and mature as a faithful servant for your glory and the growth of your Kingdom. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
He decided how much each servant would be able to care for. The man gave one servant five bags of money. He gave another servant two bags of money. And he gave a third servant one bag of money. Then that man left. The servant that got five bags of money went quickly to invest the money. Those five bags of money earned five more. It was the same with the servant that had two bags of money. That servant invested the money and earned two more. But the servant that got one bag of money went away and dug a hole in the ground. Then the servant hid his master's money in that hole. "After a long time the master came home. The master asked the servants what they did with his money. The servant that got five bags of money brought five more bags of money to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you trusted me to care for five bags of money. So I used your five bags of money to earn five more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with that small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got two bags of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of money to care for. So I used your two bags of money to earn two more.' "The master answered, 'You did right. You are a good servant that can be trusted. You did well with a small amount of money. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.' "Then the servant that got one bag of money came to the master. The servant said, 'Master, I knew that you were a very hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not put any seed. So I was afraid. I went and hid your money in the ground. Here is the one bag of money you gave me.' "The master answered, 'You are a bad and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant, and that I gather crops where I did not put any seed. So youshould have put my money in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would get my money back. And I would also get the interest that my money earned.' "{So the master told his other servants,} 'Take the one bag of money from that servant and give it to the servant that has ten bags of money. Every person that uses what he has will get more. That person will have much more than he needs. But the person that does not use what he has will have everything taken away from him.' Then the master said, 'Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness! In that place people will cry and grind their teeth {with pain}.'Matthew 25:15-30
Related Scripture Readings
— Matt. 23:8-12
— 1 Tim. 3:1-13
— Matt. 24:45-47
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
Let's lift up these requests together! 
Let's come together in prayer! 
Let's lift up 
