The people Jesus taught were quite familiar with servants. Their world had more servants than free men. They clearly understood what a servant was. They also clearly understood the difference between "good" servants and "bad" servants. They likely knew good and bad servants. They understood what made good servants "good" and bad servants "bad."
A good servant functioned conscientiously and responsibly. He knew his master well. He understood what his master wanted. He knew exactly how to care for his master's interests. He understood his basic responsibility: to help the master achieve his purposes. It did not matter if the master was or was not watching him. It did not matter if his master was out of the country or at home. A good servant conscientiously, responsibly cared for the master's interests and purposes every day. He never forgot the master's desires and purposes. He never stopped watching his master's hand. His purpose in life was to help the master achieve his goals.
A bad servant did not know his master. He cared little about understanding his master. He just did what was necessary. There was a job to do today. There would be another to do tomorrow. He feared his master. He did not want to call the master's attention to himself. Do your job well enough to go unnoticed--that was "safe." When the master watched, work hard. When the master did not watch, do only what was necessary. Live carefully and be a hard worker when the master is at home. Live carelessly and be lazy when the master is gone. Surviving is life's goal. "I probably always will be a servant. So survive; 'have fun' when life and 'good fortune' gives the opportunity."
Jesus the servant used the common knowledge of servants to teach people how to serve God.
Matthew 24:45-51
The one who was faithful and sensible.
The one the master finds doing his job (responsibly and well) when the master comes.
He was devoted to his master and dependable. He accepted responsibility to do his job well even when his master was not present. Anytime the master saw this servant, he saw the servant working responsibly.
"My master is not coming for a long time."
He beat his fellow servants and spent his time eating and drinking with the drunkards.
The master will come unexpectedly, severely scourge him, and place him with the hypocrites where he will experience severe suffering.
Matthew 25:14-30
He entrusted his possessions to three selected servants because he was going on a journey. In that time, travel was very uncertain. There was no way to communicate. A person did not know how long a trip would take. If he were gone for a long time, those at home had no way of knowing if he was alive or dead. Since today's means of investing and securing money did not exist, it was a common practice to put those you trusted in charge of your possessions/finances while you were gone. It was difficult and dangerous to take your money with you (you could easily be robbed; remember the parable of the good Samaritan?), and no method of "long distance" management existed.
The servant's personal ability determined the amount that the master entrusted to his oversight.
He began trading and doubled the amount of money the master entrusted to him.
By the same method (trading), he also doubled the amount the master entrusted to him.
He hid the money by burying it.
"Well done, good and faithful servant (slave); you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master." They were "good and faithful" because they acted responsibly in the master's best interest. They obviously understood and were devoted to their master. The large amount of money the master had entrusted to each of them was insignificant when compared to what he would now commit to their trust. Their responsibility gained his confidence. The greatest aspect of their reward would be joy.
Why should God entrust us with eternal matters if we are irresponsible in physical matters? Why should God entrust us with greater opportunity if we do not use the opportunities that we have responsibly?
The beginning of his explanation: "I knew you were a difficult man to please, a man who expected something for nothing, like reaping a harvest that you did not sow. You are the kind of man who expects great gain for no effort."
End of explanation: "I was afraid." His failure to understand his master allowed the actions of fear to rule him instead of the actions of love and respect.
He did not know his master. He did not understand his master. Instead of being controlled by love for and faith in his master, he was controlled by his fear for his own well being.
He sincerely believed that the master would be pleased with his decision and action.
The master called him wicked and lazy.
He should have put his money in a bank (their banking was not like our financial institutions) so he could at least have gained interest for this money.
No, he did not use it to drink or spend it on drinking buddies.
No, he did not waste it in sexual indulgence.
No, he did not steal it for himself or anyone else.
No, he did not misappropriate it for the benefit of any family member or friend.
No, he received no benefit from having the money in his possession and power of decision.
No, the master gained no money, but neither did he sustain an actual loss.
The servant was wicked because he did not act in his master's best interest. The foundation of his wickedness is seen in these facts: he did not know his master; he misunderstood his master; and he misunderstood his master's desire. He was lazy because he accepted no responsibility and did nothing with money entrusted to him.
Suggested thought: the master would have been happier with the servant if the servant had tried responsibly and lost the money. The master would consider trying to do something for his good better than doing nothing.
Where did we create the concept that God is happy with Christians who do nothing, and that the safest thing a Christian can do is to do nothing?
He was worthless (1) because he did not know or feel any commitment to his master and (2) because he was of no benefit to his master.
The same basic point is made in the other texts. Take everything you now understand about Jesus being precisely the servant God wanted. Remember Jesus was able to accomplish God's exact purposes because he was that kind of servant. Consider your understandings from today's lessons. Then answer this question: what are the basic requirements for a Christian to become the servant that (1) God wants and (2) accomplishes precisely what God wants done? Always remember the wicked servant did not know his master.
The basic requirements for being God's good servant are (1) knowing God [having a correct view and understanding of God], (2) loving God because you know Him [you trust Him instead of being afraid of him], (3) and functioning in a way to help God accomplish His purposes [His purposes, not our purposes that we call His purposes].
The good servant keeps his eyes on the hand of the master. He understands what his master wants. He understands it so well that he functions for the good of his master without having to be told.
Link to Student Guide Quarter 2, Lesson 2