The Three Servants in Today's Church

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-29), Jesus describes a master who entrusts three of his servants with different amounts of wealth before departing on a journey. Two of them invest and double what they received. One buries his talent out of fear. Upon the master's return, only the two who were fruitful are commended and rewarded.

This parable remains one of Jesus' most sobering teachings–not just about stewardship, but about how we live out our professed faith. All three are described as the master's servants. In today's church, they represent three distinct types of believers:

The first two servants are those who faithfully use what God has given–gifts, time, knowledge, influence–for the growth of the kingdom. These are active disciples who serve, give, teach, encourage, and bear spiritual fruit. Their reward is not just in heaven, but in deeper joy and greater responsibility now.

The third servant represents the passive or fearful believer. This person may attend church or claim faith but never uses what God has entrusted. They bury their opportunity in fear, self-preservation, or apathy. Tragically, this servant is not just rebuked but removed, showing that inactivity in the kingdom reveals a lack of true discipleship.

The parable ultimately teaches that faithfulness is proven through action. God does not expect equal results from all, but He does expect faithful stewardship. What matters is not how much we've been given, but whether we use it for Him.

Jesus' warning is clear: In the kingdom, doing nothing is not neutral–it is unfaithfulness. Every Christian has a role to play, and only those who serve with trust and diligence will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."