Daily Devotional For Saturday, February 28, 2026
Good day Southside! Can you believe that today is the last day of February already? We are making our way through the Gospel of Matthew. We are picking up where we left off yesterday and today we come to Matthew 25:22-30:
“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ (23) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’(24) “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. (25) And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ (26) “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. (27) Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. (28) Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’(29) “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. (30) Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (NASB).
As we see, the first servant was faithful and was rewarded for his faithfulness. He had been given two talents and he gained two more. So, his master put him in charge of much more. The question is not how much God has entrusted us with but what we do with it. People love affirmation such as, “Good job.” In the end, when we face God the Father in heaven, we want to hear Him say to us, “Welcome home thou good and faithful servant.”
But the last servant did nothing with his talent. In fact, he made excuses and even insulted his master because he was afraid of his master. Maybe he was thinking only of himself and feared risking failure. His accusation against his master being “harsh” and accusing his master of “reaping where he did not sow” and “gathering where he did not cast seed” was an attempt to divert attention from himself and his lack of responsibility. He feared if he lost the one talent, he would be punished.
What this one servant failed to see was this: from the beginning his responsibility was to serve his master to the best of his ability even if he failed and made a mistake. To refuse to serve, reveals a loveless heart and really no desire to accomplish anything for his master and in this case, God. Why do I say this? In this parable, the master represents the master. When we come to verse 26, the master makes it clear he has the right to sow and gather. This servant could have at least put the one talent in the bank and drawn interest on it. Remember, the master had not expected much of this servant anyway. So, the master used his servant's word against him in his rebuke and punishment of this irresponsible servant.
The one talent this one servant had was taken from him and given to the servant who had been given 5 and made 5 more. Jesus had already taught that everyone who has, more will be given (see Matt. 13:12). This parable describes the consequences of two attitudes regarding Christ’s return;
- The person who diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talent to serve God will be rewarded.
- The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will be punished. God rewards faithfulness. Those who bear no fruit for God’s kingdom cannot expect to be treated the same as those who are faithful.
What this one servant feared happened to him in the end. He was not only punished, but severely. Jesus says to fail to use what God has entrusted to us to build His kingdom and make disciples is a grievous sin and that person will receive a severe punishment because it means that person never knew or loved Jesus Christ. Oh, they may have been in church like this servant was in his master’s house, but had no real relationship to Jesus, the Master. The outside darkness of weeping and gnashing of teeth is a picture of hell (see Matt. 8:12, Matt. 13:42, Matt. 13:50, Matt. 22:13 and Matt. 24:51).
Reflection Assignment: Are you being a good steward of everything God has entrusted to you? Does your love and life reveal a life that is eager to serve God or one that makes excuses or even at times blames God or circumstances as to why you can’t serve God? If you were to stop making an excuse and make an effort for God, what would it be?
Scripture To Meditate On: Luke 8:18, “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, I do not want to be found irresponsible with what You have entrusted to me. I do not want to make excuses or even blame you or circumstances or anything or anyone else. Please use me and I promise to make an effort for You out of love for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly