WELL, WELL, WELL

Matthew 25:14-30 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Talents

 ²³"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!

 

Well done my good and faithful servant is one of those bible verses that have always stood out to me.

As a silly kid always joking around and getting a laugh out of everything, I can remember when I first heard that verse. The first thing came to my mind was STEAK.

I was thinking why make a bible verse just to show us how the Lord likes his steak. Then my smile turned to a frown when I was told no

It's not steak that he wants well done. IT'S HIS SERVANTS. I was baffled,,, thinking He wants us well done,,& this is the same God that took

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego from the fiery furnace!!! LOL

 

After reading the Parable of the Talents and some pondering on the word I came to the conclusion that he really does want us well done. Not well done in a sense of being cook but he wants our inner works and thoughts to reflect what our outer appearance shows.

I did a little cooking at a sports bar as a younger man and one of our specialities was steak. I knew absolutely nothing about steak at the time other than how to eat it with some rice gravy and cornbread. But, after a few disgruntled customers and a talk in the back office I got it together real fast. One thing I quickly learned is that a steak can look nice and ready on the outside but you cut into it and find that it is no more cooked than when it came out of the package. The only thing now is it has a little seasoning. HMMMM! This reminds me of some Christians today. We have to examine ourselves and ask AM I seasoned or sure.

You see at the sports bar I found that everyone likes his or her steak cooked a certain way, but the father we serve specified, well done.

When the Lord looks at our life and examines use from inside out what will he find?

 

Seasoned or Sure; Just like meat when its cooked can easily give a cooked appearance depending on the temperature its being cooked at and the seasoning.

Most times its not until it is really cut or bite into you can actually tell if its done.

You see its very easy to talk the Christian talk and walk the Christian walk but when the doors are closed lights are off and bible is put down are you still well done or just medium rare.

You know brown on the outside hot and red on the inside but red and pink in the center. Even though medium rare is almost medium well and medium well is almost well done

It's still just almost, and it was specified WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT when the order was placed.

 

Matthew 25:14-30 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Talents

 ¹⁴"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents^[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

 ¹⁹"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

 ²¹"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

 ²²"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

 ²³"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

 ²⁴"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

 ²⁶"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

 ²⁸" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

Just like the three men in the parable. Its not what you have been giving that matters but what but what you do with it that counts.

In the end when the Lord opens the book of life we want him to be able to say WELL Done my good and faithful servant. Through thick and thin you have served me and followed my commandments.

No X-ray machine or MRI can look and see what our father sees. A surgeon can cut as deep was they want but only our Father in heaven can Look and say well done.

 

BE Blesses! Deacon J Jones