What can I do to one day hear, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' when I get to heaven?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The phrase "Well done, good and faithful servant" comes from Jesus' parable of the talents in Matthew 25. It illustrates the type of servant God calls us to be—one who uses the gifts God has given us for His kingdom. Actions are evidence of our love and faith in God. When we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27), we seek ways to serve Him. Such service is an outgrowth of faith (Ephesians 2:8–10; Hebrews 11:6). Saying we have faith isn’t enough; the Bible teaches that believers must show others God’s love through our behavior toward them (Matthew 25:40–45; James 2:14–17). Jesus identified loving others as the second greatest commandment (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). Our actions do not save us (Ephesians 2:8), but they demonstrate we are saved. Being saved and then reflecting our salvation by loving God and others assures us that we will one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” This commandment is echoed throughout the Old Testament. Love for God is the basis of being a good servant of Him. Love compels action. Love for the Lord leads us to glorifying Him and doing what pleases Him.
• The Lord wants us to show loving kindness to others. Doing so was part of the Mosaic law, as indicated in Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” The command is punctuated with “I am the LORD,” which shows that if we love the Lord, we must also love our neighbor.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Gospels repeat the call to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).
• Matthew 25:21 relates the end of the parable of the talents: “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” In this parable, a man distributes a different number of talents (monetary unit of ancient times) to three servants. Two invested and grew the money, but the other hid it away. The master was pleased with the two, but chastised the other for not increasing what he was given. As servants of God, we must use the gifts He has given us for His kingdom.
• Doing good works isn’t what saves us. Ephesians 2:8–10 explains, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God saves us by grace, not our good works. But He saves us “for good works” (emphasis added), which means as servants of God, our good works are an outgrowth of our love for Him. The faithful servants in the parable of the talents sought to please their master; we should seek to please ours.
• The phrase “good and faithful servant,” identifies a quality of those who want to hear those words: faith. Hebrews 11:6 asserts, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” God the Father sent His Son to die for us so “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

A classic hymn from the mid-twentieth century, Servant’s Heart, pleads to the Lord, “give me a servant’s heart.” The world may see that as a strange request. Why would someone want to be a servant? But believers see it differently because of whom we serve: the Lord. He has given each of us one or more gifts to use for His glory and the extension of His kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). We shouldn’t conceal ours by not using them. What gift has God given you? Does teaching come naturally to you? Perhaps you can use that talent to facilitate a Bible study. Do you enjoy talking and socializing? Maybe you could be part of your church’s evangelistic ministry. When we love God and love others, we seek ways to serve both. In the eyes of the world, servants occupy a lowly role. But to Christians, being God’s servant is a blessing. Serving God is evidence of our faith in and love for Him. Loving God and living for Him ensures we will one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when we get to heaven.

UNDERSTAND

• Use your God-given gifts actively to serve and grow God’s kingdom.
• Demonstrate your faith through good works as a response to God’s grace.
• Embrace a servant’s heart, recognizing that serving God and others is essential to hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

REFLECT

• What specific gifts or talents has God given you? How can you actively use those gifts and talents to serve others and grow His kingdom?
• How do you demonstrate your love for God through your actions and relationships with others?
• How can embracing a servant’s heart transform your perspective on life and those around you?

ENGAGE

• How does the parable of the talents challenge our understanding of faith and service in today’s context?
• What are some practical examples of good works that reflect our faith and love for God in our community?
• How can we encourage each other to identify and utilize our God-given gifts for the good of the church and the world?