Daily Devotional: The Unprofitable Servant

​​God will reward someone who is faithful with what God has entrusted him, but what happens to the person who has wasted God's gifts of time, money, and resources?

Matthew 25:29-30

“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

What happens if we fail to wisely use the abilities and resources God has given us? At death, we must all give an account of our stewardship. Have we been faithful? Have we wasted our Master’s goods? Have we buried them?

Whenever Scripture mentions the afterlife, there are always two promises; the promise of reward and rest to the righteous and the promise of torment and darkness to the unrighteous. Here, we see the same dual promises; if you have, you will receive more, and if you have not you will have nothing. What does this mean?

If we have been faithful to use the talents and resources God has given us, then God will entrust us with more duties and responsibilities in the heavenly kingdom. Yet if we have squandered our gifts, time, and money, then God will count us as unfaithful stewards who are unworthy of having charge over any goods. The unprofitable steward will be caste out into outer darkness, which is hell.
Does God care so much about our material goods that He would cast us into hell over how we handle them?

Well, if you waste every opportunity to help your neighbor who is in need, what does that reveal about your heart? If you do not have enough time for your family because you have to pay the bills, which do you love more? You see, how we handle our time, money, and resources reflects the condition of our heart. Since God judges after the condition of the heart, how we use God’s resources and God’s judgment go hand in hand.

• Reflection: If you gave an account of your stewardship today, would you be pleased with what you found? Leave a comment below to share what God is doing in your life.