Faithfulness
The Last Sunday Service of 2024
As we gather for the final service of the year, it's a time to reflect on the events and milestones of 2024 within our church community. Here's a look back:
January: New Year's Day service and celebration
February: Special service with Pastor Jonathan Hayashi
March: Easter service
April: Special service with Pastor Iwao Sato
July: Youth camp
September: Participation in the Japanese Festival
November: Providing taiyaki at the Japanese supplementary school
December: Christmas service
As I reflect on this year, I recognize both the things I was able to accomplish and those I did not. There were moments of joy, and there were times of sadness. I set goals that I made progress toward, and others that I struggled to achieve. There were areas of study I hoped to pursue, but which I couldn't manage to complete.
In all of this, the key question remains: What does the Lord desire from us?
That is what truly matters. Does the Lord want performance and work efficiently, like a boss at a company or workplace? Does he want us to achieve some quota?
No, that is not the case.
Today, I want to focus on one of the most important things the Lord seeks from us: faithfulness. In this world, we often value visible results and efficiency, but the Lord calls us to be faithful—faithful to Him and to the tasks He has entrusted to us.
The Lord’s Words to the Faithful:
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will entrust you with much. Rejoice in my master's joy.’” (Matthew 25:21)
What does it mean to be faithful? And how can we become faithful?
Today, we’ll learn from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. But first, let's understand the larger context. Jesus spoke this parable in the midst of teaching about the end times and His second coming.
In Matthew 24, Jesus describes the events of the end times and the return of the Son of Man. In the first half of Chapter 25, He shares the parable of the ten virgins, which emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the Lord's return at any moment. Immediately following that is the parable of the talents, which we will explore today.
Matthew 25:14-30
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away." (Matthew 25:14-15)
→ The master in this parable represents the Lord Jesus. The talents are symbolic of the various things the Lord entrusts to us—our time, gifts, abilities, and opportunities. However, the Lord does not give the same things to everyone. Instead, He entrusts us with what He deems best, according to His will.
"He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two more talents. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money." (Matthew 25:16-18)
→ The three servants had different responses. Two of them used their talents immediately and made a profit, while the third hid his talent and did nothing.
"Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 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.’" (Matthew 25:19-21)
"And he who had received the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two more 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.’" (Matthew 25:22-23)
→ The master praised both the servant with five talents and the servant with two talents equally, for they had been faithful with what they were given.
"He who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’" (Matthew 25:24-25)
"But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" (Matthew 25:26-30)
→ The master rebuked the servant who did nothing with his talent. This servant was judged harshly for his lack of faithfulness.
This parable from the Lord Jesus illustrates one crucial point: faithfulness. That is the focus of today’s message.
As I mentioned earlier, the larger context of this parable is about preparing for the end times and the Lord's second coming. The central message of this parable is how we should prepare for that day.
The Lord Jesus wants each of us to be ready to meet Him by faithfully managing and using what He has entrusted to us.
How can we apply this teaching in our lives? The Lord will definitely return. Just as His first coming was fulfilled as prophesied, so too will His second coming be. We must prepare ourselves so that when He comes, He will say, "Well done. Rejoice with Me."
1. Recognizing What the Lord Has Entrusted to Us
To be faithful, we first need to understand what the Lord has entrusted to us.
“To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, to another one talent, each according to his ability, and then went away.” (Matthew 25:15)
The Lord does not withhold from some and give to others. He entrusts each person with a "talent," a responsibility or resource, according to His will. This truth is reinforced in several other passages of Scripture. For example:
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)
The Lord Jesus has already given each of us gifts—whether it’s the gift of the Holy Spirit, an ability, a special talent, a skill, something material, or even our time. If you’re uncertain about what you’ve been entrusted with, ask those around you. Often, others can see things in you that you may not recognize yourself.
For instance, many years ago at a church in Tokyo, someone pointed out to me that my first impression was positive, and that it was a gift. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but later I understood that I could use this gift to speak to people in front of train stations or on university campuses to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Another important lesson is not to compare what you’ve been entrusted with to what others have been given. As we see in today’s parable, the Lord does not give everyone the same gifts. He entrusts each person with different things according to His will. This doesn’t mean that some are excellent and others are lacking. The fact that the Lord has entrusted something to you makes it special in itself.
So, are there any of you who feel that others have greater gifts or abilities, and that what you have is nothing special? Remember, everything the Lord has given you is precious. Would the Lord entrust His children with something that’s insignificant? Of course not.
The servant who received the one talent did not understand his master’s heart. He misunderstood his master’s intentions. Perhaps he felt discouraged because he wasn’t entrusted with as much as the others. Maybe he thought he wasn’t valued as highly, or that he couldn’t accomplish anything with just one talent. He even might have believed that his master was harsh, asking for a return on such a small amount. But this was a misunderstanding of his master’s love and expectations.
Let’s be careful not to make the same mistake with the Lord. He knows what He has entrusted to each of us, and it is not a mistake or an oversight. He has a purpose for each gift and talent, no matter how small it may seem.
When I first heard that people thought my first impression was good, I wondered if that could even be considered a gift. But when I believed it and used it for the Lord and for others, He did wonderful things. He used it to spread His gospel to many people. Because of this “gift,” I was able to reach out to countless individuals. Of course, there were moments of rejection, but those were rare.
3. Faithfully Using What the Lord Has Entrusted to Me
Finally, being faithful means actively and continuously using what the Lord has entrusted to me—not just for my benefit, but for the Lord’s glory and for the good of others. It also means being faithful in the responsibilities He has given me and the environment He has placed me in.
Faithfulness involves a consistent attitude of service, not a one-time effort, but a continuous commitment. This is the mark of a faithful person.
Have you ever been told that you have a gift, but you’ve neglected to use it? The Lord calls us to use our gifts actively and consistently, both for Him and to bless others.
In some cases, you may have stopped doing it because there were no visible results or accomplishments. But as I said at the beginning, the Lord is not interested in visible achievements, numbers, or efficiency like a company in this world. His number one concern is whether we are faithful.
In other cases, you might feel dissatisfied with what the Lord has entrusted to you and may even be seeking something else. Being faithful to what the Lord has given you and entrusted to you is the path to blessings. If the Lord has placed you in a certain position, it is pleasing to the Lord to seek His will in that situation and be faithful there. Sometimes you don't see the results you want. But when you are faithful in what the Lord has entrusted to you, He will also entrust you with other things. Even if it seems like a small thing, when you believe that the Lord has entrusted it to you and is faithful, He will entrust you with other things as well.
“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.” (Matthew 25:21)
Even in this parable, we see the principle: when we are faithful in what the Lord has entrusted to us, He will entrust us with more.
If you are trying to avoid or run away from what the Lord has given you, that’s not His will. The Lord desires us to be faithful where we are, and through our faithfulness, He reveals His glory and accomplishes His purposes.
The Most Important Thing Entrusted to Us
Finally, what is the most important thing the Lord has entrusted to us as Christians? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul referred to himself as a steward of the mystery of Christ, and so are we. We, as Christians, have heard the gospel of Jesus, believed in it, and experienced its blessings. We’ve seen firsthand how wonderful the gospel is.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
The gospel brings salvation to everyone who believes. It forgives sins, makes us children of God, and gives us eternal life. Through it, we experience God’s love and grace, which surpass anything in this world. We know the way to eternal life with God.
Are we faithful stewards of such a wonderful gift? Each of us has experienced the transformative power of the gospel. It is something we are entrusted with, and it is meant to be shared. Don’t downplay your testimony. It is not insignificant. To dismiss it is like saying God’s work in you is not valuable. Every experience and work that God has done in your life is precious. He is pleased when we acknowledge His work with gratitude and share it with others.
Summary
Today, we’ve learned the importance of being faithful with what the Lord has entrusted to us. When we trust in His will and remain faithful, the Lord notices and is pleased. And He will reward us, unlike the bosses or powerful figures of this world. The Lord doesn’t see us as mere tools for His agenda; He loves each of us deeply, even to the point of sacrificing His life for us, and He entrusts us with what is best for us.
“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.” (Matthew 25:21)
The Lord is equally pleased with the servant who had five talents as He is with the one who had two. It’s not about the quantity or the visible results. What matters is faithfulness. The Lord did not tell the servant with two talents, “You didn’t do as well as the one with five, but you tried.” He praised him and rejoiced in the same way.
What might seem insignificant in our eyes or the eyes of others is not so in the Lord’s eyes. He values our faithfulness and will reward us accordingly.
The Lord will return, and we will all stand before Him. At that time, He will not evaluate us based on worldly standards—our achievements, numbers, or efficiency. Instead, He will look at our faithfulness to Him and to what He entrusted to us. Nothing done in faith, believing it to be His will, will go unnoticed. The Lord sees it all and is pleased. He never compares us to others. There is no greater blessing than being faithful to the Lord, and no greater reward than hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
