Faithfulness to the Master’s purpose characterizes the actions of the first two servants in this parable. They had been given five and two talents respectively, and while their master was away, they put the money to work and doubled it. The master upon returning praised the servants for their actions.

The story begs a deeper understanding than just that the master was happy to get more money. First, the servants understood their master’s desires without being explicitly told what to do with the money. Second, they were wise in how they invested the money. Third, they acted consistently according to the ability the master recognized in them (see vs. 15). Fourth, they genuinely had their master’s interest in mind. They didn’t fear him in a negative sense. Fifth, they understood clearly that it was all about their master, not about them.

The result is the most telling of all. First, the master affirms them as “good and faithful.” The Christian is driven by the accolades of his heavenly Master. Second, their faithfulness is rewarded. Notice that the reward is not ease and comfort or financial blessings, but added responsibility. While to some this may seem a poor reward, to the Christian there truly is “joy in serving Jesus.” More opportunity translates into more joy. Both the servant and the master implicitly know that the greatest result is sharing the joy that comes from working together for the Master’s purposes. The faithful servant is the one who catches on to the heart of the Master, comes in line with the things that bring Him joy, and therefore the reward is to share more of what the Master does. As Christians, we become good and faithful servants as we increasingly share in the work of our heavenly Father.

How much time, unfortunately, is spent seeking happiness and fulfillment in everything else, but never finding it—when the answer is simply to live our lives in service to our heavenly Master. That is the secret to real joy!