Recently, our pastor, Rev. Greg Wahlberg, at Calvary Baptist Church in York PA, used the idea of a family reunion as the introduction to his Sunday morning message. Pastor Wahlberg began his message on June 30, 2013, by recounting the joys and sorrows of family reunions. The biggest joy has to be seeing again our family and those that we love. The biggest sorrow, aside from missing those who couldn’t attend, has to be feeling and seeing the disappointment in the faces of family members that we have failed to please.
Pastor Wahlberg used the parable of the Parable of the Talents from chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel, as the scriptural text for his message. In particular, he focused his message on one verse, Matthew 25:21
His lord said unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (KJV)
Pastor Wahlberg made the point that a reunion day is coming for the family of God, that is all individuals who have accepted the gift of salvation offered through the sacrifice of Christ. This reunion will occur at the judgment day of Christ where our works will be judged to determine if they are gold, silver, wood, hay or stubble. If they are gold and silver, we will be rewarded with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If they are wood, hay or stubble, they will be burnt up. We will be saved, but so as by fire as Paul noted in I Corinthians 3:11 – 15:
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)
Returning to the verse Matthew 25:21, Pastor Wahlberg noted that there are three things the words “well” and “good” modify.He continued by focusing our attention on those three ideas.
The first idea to which “well” referred was the quality of our work. The servants that had been given the two and five talents doubled their master’s money. The quality of their work was excellent. It met or exceeded the normal human expectations for return on investment.
This point got me to thinking about the motivational basis of our work. There has been an ongoing discussion on an academic discussion board in which I participate about whether faculty members should be motivated by rewards or duty. In this summer season, as we have celebrated Memorial Day, Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, it is a question that many are asking about service to our country, the United States of America. No matter what season, this is a question we need to ask ourselves about our service to God. Should we be motivated by a sense of obligation, a sense of duty, an expectation of reward, or a sense of love? I believe we can find the answer in I John 4:10 – 19.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV)
The second idea to which “well” referred was the completion or completeness of one’s work. The word “done” says it all. Pastor Wahlberg reminded us of Christ’s prayer, in John 17:4, just before his crucifixion,
I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (KJV)
Completion of work in a timely fashion and the completeness of one’s work in academic circles usually raises many debates and arguments. At Judgment Day, there will be no extra time allowed. There will be no opportunity to make up work. There will be no extra credit allowed. The assignment will be judged on its quality and whether it is completed, at the given due date.
If those two aspects weren’t enough, Matthew 25:21 suggests at least one more factor on which we will be judged. That factor is the quality is our character. Note the verse praises the servant as a “good and faithful” servant. Good and faithful are attributes of one’s character.
Can people count on you “to be good”? “To be good” is usually understood to do what is right, even if that is not convenient or advantageous for you to do so. Do you have a reputation for being good? Proverbs 22:1 suggests one very good reason for seeking a good reputation
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (KJV)
I Peter 2:11 – 16 is more specific:
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (KJV)
There in verse 16 is that word “servant” again. We must be “good servants.”
Now the second desirable attribute of our character suggested in Matthew 25 was the trait of being “faithful.” What does it mean to be faithful? Two ideas came to my mind. The first is the idea of loyalty. Are we loyal to our God and Saviour?
One scriptural passage that speaks to loyalty is Luke 16:12 & 13:
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The second idea associated with loyalty was the idea of being committed to another. It is as in the marriage ceremony where the bride and groom pledge their troth (or trust) to each other. Troth is a Norse word that means true or truth.
The questions then remain: Are we good and faithful? Is our work good and done well? Judgment day is coming!
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