Job 36-37
Acts 15:22-41
“…a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” —Matthew 25:14-15
In Jesus’s parable of the bags of gold, He told the story of a master going on a journey and entrusting three servants with his wealth while he was gone. As a result, “the man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more” (Matthew 25:16-17). These men did not wait for further instructions, the perfect timing or when they had it all figured out; they got busy with work
and ended up gaining more.
The Greek word for “gain” is kerdainó, which means “literally or figuratively to gain, to acquire, to win.” Kerdainó occurs about 17 times in Scripture. Paul uses this term to describe his own church planting ministry in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win [kerdainó] as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win [kerdainó] the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law…so as to win [kerdainó] those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law…so as to win [kerdainó] those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win [kerdainó] the weak.” As we study the usage of kerdainó, we see that it is used metaphorically to describe the activity of helping someone get free from sin and enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Consistent throughout Paul’s ministry was that he never watered down the gospel, although he did contextualize the gospel, adopting methods to present the gospel in a relevant way to his audience. He simply pointed people to the truth and reality of Jesus; it was the Holy Spirit that brought the power and conviction.
Similarly, the servants do not need to know how everything will work out; they just need to be good and faithful with what was entrusted to them. When the master returned and saw how the two servants used his wealth, he said, “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!” (Matthew 25: 21). Although the two servants did not have identical returns—one got five and the other got two—both received the exact same response from the master. They worked with what they were given and, as a result, were invited to share in the master’s happiness.
May we be good and faithful with what Jesus has entrusted to us.
Almighty God, I long to hear You say the words “well done, good and faithful servant!” to me. Help me to be faithful in the work that You have given me while I still have time to do Your will. Thank You, Lord.
Acts 15:22-41
“…a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” —Matthew 25:14-15
In Jesus’s parable of the bags of gold, He told the story of a master going on a journey and entrusting three servants with his wealth while he was gone. As a result, “the man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more” (Matthew 25:16-17). These men did not wait for further instructions, the perfect timing or when they had it all figured out; they got busy with work
and ended up gaining more.
The Greek word for “gain” is kerdainó, which means “literally or figuratively to gain, to acquire, to win.” Kerdainó occurs about 17 times in Scripture. Paul uses this term to describe his own church planting ministry in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win [kerdainó] as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win [kerdainó] the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law…so as to win [kerdainó] those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law…so as to win [kerdainó] those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win [kerdainó] the weak.” As we study the usage of kerdainó, we see that it is used metaphorically to describe the activity of helping someone get free from sin and enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Consistent throughout Paul’s ministry was that he never watered down the gospel, although he did contextualize the gospel, adopting methods to present the gospel in a relevant way to his audience. He simply pointed people to the truth and reality of Jesus; it was the Holy Spirit that brought the power and conviction.
Similarly, the servants do not need to know how everything will work out; they just need to be good and faithful with what was entrusted to them. When the master returned and saw how the two servants used his wealth, he said, “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!” (Matthew 25: 21). Although the two servants did not have identical returns—one got five and the other got two—both received the exact same response from the master. They worked with what they were given and, as a result, were invited to share in the master’s happiness.
May we be good and faithful with what Jesus has entrusted to us.
Almighty God, I long to hear You say the words “well done, good and faithful servant!” to me. Help me to be faithful in the work that You have given me while I still have time to do Your will. Thank You, Lord.
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