“Again, it will be like 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. 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. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “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!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “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!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold 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. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “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? Well 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. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
Jesus told this story to show us that we are to be about the Master’s business. God has given each one of us talents, skills, abilities, resources and time to make a difference in the kingdom of God. How are you investing the talents he has given you? It’s not money that Jesus is looking for us to multiply but souls. Are you investing into the lives of those around you, working hard to bring them closer to Christ? Are you intentional and focused on that goal?
The Master in the story does not appear to be more impressed with the one who gained five than the one who gained two. Instead, God commended both of them because they had worked hard and doubled what he had given them. We will not be judged by the amount of fruit we bear in comparison to others. Don’t ever feel inadequate because you don’t think you can make the impact that someone else is making, and don’t ever stop giving God your best effort because it seems you’ve done more than others. Rather look to God with a humble heart and give 100% all the time. Use everything He’s given you and make the most of every opportunity to impact the world for Christ, then trust God to bring the increase.