The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day seven)

You wicked, lazy slave. 

The sin was laziness. The Master was not upset because the slave came back with no interest. The Master was not upset because the slave was dishonest. The Master was upset because the slave did not even try. He was not even that afraid of his Master. If he was, he would have put it in the bank instead of burying it in a field. The slave was afraid of failure.

As we gathered around the cross on Wednesday night in a time of confession and repentance, we were given a repentance sheet (one Pastor Chris encourages us to use often). At the top of the deadly sin list stands a word we do not talk about often in Baptist life. Acedia: spiritual or mental sloth; apathy.

The sin is laziness. Especially when it comes to stewardship, we can easily become lazy in our giving, we can become lazy in our serving, and we can become lazy in our learning. We can do it all with excuses and rationalizations, but the truth is, our laziness shows we were never really afraid of the Master, we are afraid of failure. Take a risk. Give it a try. See what happens when you take your talents and put them in a position to be used and multiplied.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day six)

The servants had a singular purpose: to extend and preserve the household’s legacy. It wasn’t a side project or optional task; it was their primary calling. The story challenges our tendency to treat the Kingdom like a hobby, something we add to an already full life.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33, “seek first the kingdom,” remind us that stewardship is about priority, not just participation. And it’s not only about money. Time, relationships, gifts, and opportunities are all part of what God entrusts to us.

Stewardship isn’t something Christians occasionally do; it’s part of who we are. To follow Jesus is to live with open hands, recognizing that every part of life belongs to Him and can be invested for His purposes.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day five)

“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)

Those are the words every believer longs to hear from Jesus.

In the Gospel of Matthew 24–25, Jesus teaches about His return. Instead of giving dates, He gives parables. The message is clear: live ready. Live faithful.

In the Parable of the Talents, the master entrusts his servants with resources and then departs. When he returns, he looks for faithfulness. The issue isn’t how much they were given—it’s what they did with it.

This parable isn’t ultimately about productivity. It’s about love. The faithful servants trusted and loved their master. The unfaithful servant withdrew in fear and did nothing.

We don’t serve out of guilt. Guilt is not the voice of the Spirit. We serve out of joy. Jesus invites us into His work—sowing, reaping, praying for laborers—because “the harvest is plentiful” (Matthew 9:37–38).

And we don’t do this alone. The Kingdom is a community project. We labor side by side, strengthening one another as we finish the mission God has entrusted to us.

Jesus has gone away.

He will return.

May we be found faithful.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day four)

This parable is part of a series of teachings that Jesus gives his disciples before making his final journey to the cross. He gives this teaching on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem, where he would soon be put to death. In this series of teachings, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death, resurrection, and ultimate return.

Through the analogy of investing, Jesus is encouraging his disciples to maximize the life they’ve been given in order to advance God’s Kingdom. He instructs them not to sit on their hands, hide away in fear, or ignore the world around them while they await his return. They are to invest what they’ve been given – their intimate walk with Jesus, their knowledge of God’s Kingdom, their time, their resources and connections, their money, and everything around them – into the Kingdom of God. Any investment into the Kingdom will reap a generous return.

God has given to each of us generously and uniquely. Take stock of what God has given you (no matter who you are, it will be a long list). How can you use these things to invest in the Kingdom of God?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day three)

²⁵And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.

Following God is going to cost us something. We see that here in Jesus’ parable as he describes the efforts the first two servants did to double the master’s talents. We are not sure what they did to double the talents, but I am sure that it cost them in some way, shape, and form (time, energy, personal resources, etc). On the other hand, as we see with the third servant, the money does not double if just left alone.

I am most aware of this “cost” in my parenting. God has given my kids to me and Ashley to steward well. Each day that we have with them is filled with “teachable” moments where I can show them God’s Way. Now, I can choose to be vigilant and be a good steward of that time with my kids and family, which often costs me something (time, energy, etc.), or I can choose the easy, lazy way out (and sometimes do). The lazy way is a selfish way to live. It puts “me” at the forefront instead of God. It puts “me” over whatever God has entrusted to me.

Sin leads us to choose “my way” instead of God’s way. However, following God and choosing the “cost” is worth doing over the lazy (sinful) way. As you read through this scripture during the week, ask God to search your heart for where you have chosen the lazy way out of following Him instead of the way that might cost you something. How is God calling you to steward what He has entrusted to you?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 25:14–30 (day two)

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. v. 14

Before looking at the actions of the three servants, let’s consider the gift that the master gives. What possible reason would he have for giving his wealth to people who serve him? It is a miracle of grace that he would divide his treasure to give to people who are not his family. What is even more incredible when you consider the larger context of this parable is that God, who gives us his creation to steward, knows our hearts. He knows our greed and selfishness. Why would he freely give us these things? Unlike the master in this story, God does want us to be his family. He wants us to flourish in his kingdom. This doesn’t always mean in finances, but it does mean that we share in the inheritance of God the Father. Knowing our hearts, he still gave us Jesus. Isn’t that incredible?