Parable of the Three Servants

14 “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.
15 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.

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

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
20 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.’

21 “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!’

22 “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.’

23 “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!’

24 “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.
25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “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,
27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.
29 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.
30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Main Passage

Matthew 25:14–30 (Parable of the Talents, NLT)
This parable shows that God entrusts His people with resources, abilities, and opportunities. He does not call us to strive in our own strength but to faithfully steward what He has placed in our hands.

Context

  • In Matthew 24–25, Jesus prepares His disciples for His return.
  • The parable of the talents reveals the difference between faithful stewardship and fearful striving.
  • In biblical times, stewards were trusted managers—not owners. Their role was not to compete or prove themselves but to faithfully care for what belonged to their master.

Anchor Scriptures

  • Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
  • Matthew 6:33–34 – Seek first the Kingdom; don’t strive in worry.
  • Luke 16:10–12 – Faithfulness in small things leads to greater trust.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:2 – Stewards are called to be faithful, not anxious.
  • 1 Peter 4:10 – Steward God’s grace by serving others with your gifts.

Angle (Approach)

Stewardship is about faithful partnership with God. We are called to manage His blessings, not to exhaust ourselves striving to prove worth. True stewardship flows from trust, rest, and obedience, knowing that God is the owner and provider.

Main Thoughts

  1. God Entrusts, We Manage – Everything belongs to Him; we are caretakers.
  2. Faithfulness, Not Frenzy – God asks for obedience, not striving.
  3. Rest in God’s Provision – Stewardship flows from trust, not fear.
  4. Stewardship Impacts Eternity – Our faithfulness brings joy, reward, and Kingdom fruit.

Mood & Tone

  • Encouraging & Hopeful – God equips what He entrusts.
  • Peaceful & Reassuring – No striving is needed when we trust Him.
  • Challenging – Fear and laziness can cause us to bury what God gave us.

Key Themes

  • Called to Faithfulness, Not Performance
  • God’s Ownership, Our Management
  • Rest vs. Striving
  • Trusting God’s Provision
  • Kingdom Impact Through Stewardship

Reflection & Life Application

  • Time: Am I rushing through life, or resting in God’s timing while managing my days?
  • Talents: Am I faithfully using my gifts, or hiding them out of fear?
  • Treasure: Do I trust God with my finances, or strive to control them?
  • Truth (Gospel): Am I sharing God’s Word out of obedience, or striving for approval?

Reflection Questions:

  1. Where in my life am I striving instead of stewarding?
  2. How can I shift from performance-driven effort to faith-filled stewardship?
  3. What resources has God entrusted to me that I need to manage with peace and trust?
  4. How can I practice resting in God’s provision while remaining faithful in my responsibilities?

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You that You have called us to steward, not to strive. Teach us to walk in trust and faithfulness, knowing that all we have belongs to You. Help us to manage our time, talents, treasure, and truth with wisdom and peace. May our stewardship bring joy to Your heart and fruit for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.