Theology Matters
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30
The wicked servant in the parable makes a telling statement when he gives his excuse for burying the talent he had been given. He says, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man…” What does he mean by this? The language he uses for the wicked servant suggests that he views the Master as someone harsh, hard to please, vindictive, stern, churlish, and bitter. He sees the Master as one who demands more than men can give and makes no allowances for weakness and failure.
He makes no room in his thoughts for the possibility that the Master could be generous with love, or kind with mercy. He doesn’t think of Him as a Master who could express grace. Therefore, he is unwilling to risk losing what he has been given. He digs a hole, hides it away, and waits for the Master’s return. In contrast, the other two servants put the Master’s talents at risk. The talents they possessed potentially could have been lost. They did so because they knew the Master to be kind, gracious, and loving. Further, they likely agreed with the wicked servant that the Master reaped where he did not sow. Therefore, they had faith their Master would bless their efforts and they would receive an increase.
It seems that Jesus is making the point that our fundamental problems often begin with our view of Him. When we see Jesus as a “hard man” – vindictive, stern, and hard to please – we become frozen in fear. We won’t risk, we won’t act in faith, and we won’t use what He has put in our hands because we fear His response to us if we fail or lose what we have.
When we see Jesus as kind, gracious, merciful, and loving we are set free to serve; even risking what we have in that service, because we know that if we fail in seeking to do good and glorify Him, He will show us mercy.
We aren’t good and faithful servants because we always succeed. The root of good and faithful service is a correct, biblical understanding of the nature of God. Good and faithful service starts with good theology (the study of God).
