July 29, 2002  

"Doing A Few Things Well"

In Jesus' familiar Parable of the Talents, the returning master responds to the servant who has taken care of business:
"Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21)

Those of us who are committed to serving the Lord want to feel that the things we do for him matter, that they are significant, that they really make a difference. But sometimes the things he asks us to do seem very small. We are sincere, and even courageous, when we say: "Lord, is that all? Give me something big to do. You can trust me."

But the good servant of the parable was asked to do only "a few things." Faithfulness in these earned him the master's praise.

We may reason that this is God's way of training us and preparing us for service in bigger things. But the master of the parable does not say, "Good; your faithfulness in a few things proves to me that I can trust you with more and more responsibility." Some may read this into the master's statement "I will put you in charge of many things." But this seems, rather to refer to some heavenly reward, since the master's return is an allegory of Christ's Second Coming.

No, surprisingly, the master seems to be saying, "Good work in your few areas of responsibility; you're done now; relax and enjoy." The "few things" was the most the servant was ever expected to do.

Actually, it's very humbling to think that "a few things" is all we're capable of contributing to the Lord's work. We'd like to be conquering heroes of the faith, overcoming great enemies in the Lord's name. I say, "Lord, let me be St. George slaying the fearsome dragon." The Lord says, "No; just swat that fly over there. That task will take all your energy and ingenuity." Very humbling indeed.

If you think about it, this is true of even the greatest Christian leaders. We may honor them as God's servants who are called to do many things, big things. But God knows (and they themselves know, as they bow before him) that even they have only been able to do "a few things" of lasting significance. No disciple of Jesus will hear any higher praise from the Lord than this, "Well done; you have been faithful in a few things." That's his highest compliment to his servants.

Only his Son Jesus Christ has done big things; only he has done many things. There is only one Star in God's drama of salvation. The rest of us are extras, not worthy of being listed in the credits.

So don't let the thought that you will only accomplish "a few things" for the Lord discourage you. Rather, rejoice that he has entrusted you with a bit part and play it with your whole heart and soul.

Accomplishing "a few things" that have eternal meaning—that's a high calling.

–Pastor George VanAlstine