March 2025

Well Done!

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

Many, if not all of us, have participated in strategic planning exercises. Strategic plans are made up of a series of goals, objectives, and critical tasks designed to drive progress, focus resources, and ultimately achieve success. These plans are often easy to create but difficult to execute. Achieving each goal requires us to focus on the details of each critical task. As the individual tasks are accomplished, the objectives are completed, and the goals become reality. The commitment to completing the smaller items leads to a larger celebration of success. This is true in our personal lives just as much as it is in our professional lives.

In Mathew 25, Jesus tells a parable about three servants, each given different amounts of silver to manage while the master was away. Upon the master’s return, each servant explained what they were able to accomplish with the silver entrusted to them. Two of the servants were able to double the amount of silver, and the third did nothing with the treasure other than hide it. Mathew 25:21 documents the master’s response to the first servant, “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’” Verse 23 documents the master’s response to the second servant, “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’” The master’s response to the third servant is found in verse 26, ‘You wicked and lazy servant!”. Jesus explains that this parable is an illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven. As such, it would be wise to understand how this might relate to our present life.

The varying amount of silver illustrates the blessings, talents, and opportunities given to each of us throughout life. What we choose to do with these will determine the master’s response to us.

While there are many different takeaways from this parable and its application, the portion that stuck out to me recently is the two adjectives used to describe the servants who doubled their silver – good and faithful. Many people take comfort in believing that they are generally good people. One could argue that the third servant was a good man as he protected the silver given to him rather than losing it. However, good was simply not good enough in this story! Have you ever asked yourself, “Are you faithful? Are you faithful to God’s calling and direction in your life? Faithful in being a good steward of the things that God has entrusted you with?”

Our world is filled with resumes that document amazing accomplishments. However, no accomplishment could be better than finishing our journey of life and then hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Have you ever taken a moment to think about what you should be focused more on to ensure that you will hear these words of affirmation one day? Perhaps it’s time to focus your efforts and thoughts on long-term personal goals that really matter in the end, ones that are eternal rather than temporal. One such goal is a goal focused on more than just good but on our faithfulness in all things.  While this goal would have at least two objectives, being good and being faithful, each one of these objectives would have several critical tasks specific to our individual skills, abilities, and blessings. Like the execution of a good strategic plan, it starts with the little things. In fact, the master in the parable says to the servants who were good and faithful, “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” It all starts with a focus on the small things that build to the larger opportunities, growth, and blessings.

Challenge: Each day that passes presents an opportunity for us to work on our longest-term personal goals. Don’t miss the opportunity to focus on the goal that matters most. Focus on the details. Don’t assume that good is good enough. Be faithful in all things.

Published: March 1, 2025

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