Spring 2006
The Faithful Servant
Wade E Taylor

“Well done, you good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:21

This commendation is the result of our being prepared, or made ready for the kingdom. This word, “well done,” will be heard by those who have been lifted into a place of identity with Jesus – those who have within them that which is required to function with Him in His Kingdom.

The Lord came to three of His servants and gave “talents” to each. These talents relate to the spiritual capacity, or the potential ability that we have within our makeup. This talent is given to us from above, and we are to spend it. This is not based on human ability, but the inner development of our spirit through our response to the spiritual.

“And to one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several (own) ability.” Matthew 25:15a (comment added)

The word then says, “and immediately took His journey” (Matthew 25:15b). This is emphasized, as He imparted spiritual “gifting and ability” into the “capacity” that He found within each, and then He left, with the intention of returning later.

The one that had received “five” went into the marketplace and invested it. The one who have received “two” also invested it. The one that had received “one” very carefully wrapped it, and set it aside for a future time when the Lord returned.

When the Lord came back, the one who was given five now had “ten,” the one with two now had “four,” and one that had one, still had the same “one.”

The Lord commended the one who now had ten talents, and the one who now had four talents, with exactly the same words.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23b

It took exactly the same amount of effort for the servant with the two talents to produce another two, as did the servant with five talents to produce five more. Therefore, the same thing was said to both. It is not “much done” that is important, but rather, “well done.”

We may not realize it, but each of us has received our “talent,” and we are in the process of either preserving it, or using it so it might increase. The Lord’s desire and intention is to bring us into spiritual maturity, in which we are being prepared for “that day.”

The one who had the “one” talent said, “Lord, I really took good care of it. I did not allow anything polluted to come near it, and I carefully guarded it.” Nevertheless, the Lord said, “Depart from Me.”

“He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6b

Our using the talent we have been given goes beyond any present result. It is what we are becoming that is important, not what we are doing.

As we seek to be lifted into the higher purposes of the Lord, He will develop within us the necessary capacity so we can function with Him in that day. I am to hold what I have before the Lord, and believe for an increase. It does not matter how limited I am, or may feel. I am not to wait, thinking “maybe someday,” but I am to use what I have and the Lord will cause it to increase.

The one that had “one” said, “I will wait for the greater day. I am going to wait until the Lord does some great thing. I will wrap it up and lay it aside.” When the Lord came, he was rebuked. But the ones that went out and used what they had were given increase, and were called into the marriage supper of the Lamb.

At some point in our lives, there was an impartation or promise that we would be used by the Lord. We can go back and think on these words, and our faith will be stirred.

“Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.” II Timothy 1:6

In other words, “you” stir it up. No matter how limited it may be - it may even take a microscope to find it, but it is there. Stir it up and begin to use it, and you will be amazed, especially today as we are on the threshold of a powerful move of God. No past generation has had this opportunity as we do today. This will happen because we are living at the particular time when God is about to deal with the nations of this world.

We should pray, “Lord, if You are going to move in someone’s life, move in my life. If You are going to move sometime, do it now.”

If we will stir up what we have and spend it, the Lord “will” use us for His purpose and glory.