In this 5-day devotional, we will examine the Parable of the Three Servants ( Matthew 25: 14-30) and the Parable of the Ten Servants (Luke 19: 12 - 27) to discover how we are God’s investment and what our return on His investment should look like. 

In both the Parable of the Three Servants (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Parable of the Ten Servants (Luke 19:12-27), we see a clear message: the Master entrusts His servants with resources, expecting them to invest and grow what they've been given. Similarly, Jesus teaches us that God has invested specific gifts, talents, and abilities in each of us, with the expectation that we use them for His glory, to build up others, and to further His kingdom. This is not a casual task—God expects us to take this responsibility seriously, recognizing the value of what has been entrusted to us.

I Corinthians 12:7 reminds us, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (NLT). Similarly, Romans 12:4-8 tells us, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (NLT).

These scriptures make it clear: if you have the Holy Spirit within you, it’s not a question of whether God has given you a gift, but which gifts He has entrusted to you. Each of us has been uniquely equipped to fulfill a purpose in God's plan. It’s up to us to recognize, cultivate, and faithfully use these gifts, understanding that this is a weighty and sacred responsibility. The way we steward these gifts matters deeply to God, as they are meant to serve others and advance His kingdom.

Today's Reflection Question: What gifts has God invested in me, and how am I using them to serve others?

Today’s Prayer: Lord, thank You for the unique gifts You have placed within me. Open my heart to the leading of the Holy Spirit so I can identify the gifts I may not yet see. Help me to take seriously the responsibility of using these gifts for Your kingdom and the good of others.

Most people would agree that investing is generally a good thing. Even though the stock market is unpredictable, with periods of dips and crashes, experts advise focusing on the long-term trend of positive returns over several years. Looking back at the parables, we can imagine that not knowing when the master would return made it seem like a risky decision for the servants to invest their master’s money. Like the third servant in the parable, it’s easy to understand why he would want to keep the money safe rather than risk losing it.

What if he made a bad investment or lost the money? However, when we step back and remember that this parable is a metaphor for the Kingdom of God, we realize why it was foolish for the servant not to invest. If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that you can always trust in God! When God gives instructions and we obey, the results always yield a positive return—even if the process feels uncertain or scary.

One key truth to remember is that we and everything we have belong to the Lord (Psalm 24:1, NLT), and His plans for us are good (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT). This means the gifts He has given us are for a specific purpose to benefit His Kingdom, not for our personal comfort. God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave you your unique gift, even though it may sometimes feel like it brings more challenges than rewards.

Just like any gift, God expects you to use it. If He has given you the gift of singing, sing with confidence. If He has given you the gift of prophecy, prophesy boldly. “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence” (Jeremiah 17:7, NLT). And as Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding” (NLT).

Like the servants in the parable, we don’t know when we will meet our Master again and be called to account for how we’ve used the gifts He entrusted to us (2 Corinthians 5:10, NLT). We will be rewarded or judged accordingly. Don’t let fear or the possibility of making mistakes stop you from using your gifts for God’s glory. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).

Don’t let the lies of the enemy prevent you from using your gifts to share God’s love and win souls for Christ.

Today's Reflection Question: How have I allowed discomfort or fear to stop me from walking in my gifts?

Today’s Prayer: Lord, transform my mind and give me the confidence and boldness to walk in the gifts You have given me.

In Luke 19:13, the nobleman called together ten of his servants, divided ten pounds of silver among them, and gave clear instructions: “Invest this for me while I am gone.” Scripture tells us that one servant made ten times the original amount, while another made five times the original amount. However, the third servant returned only the original amount. The two servants who invested the money were greatly rewarded, while the third servant’s money was taken away and given to the one who had ten pounds.

Jesus ends the parable by saying, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away” (Luke 19:26, NLT). God expects us not to hold on to the gifts He has given us, but to use them wisely. Again, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. And to those who do nothing, what little they have will be taken away.”

For every gift that God gives, He expects us to cultivate and steward that gift to the best of our ability. If you're unsure how to cultivate your gift, ask the Giver—God—how to use it. Lean on the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and guidance. Look to the Bible for examples of how others used their gifts. You can also read books and watch videos to learn how to develop your abilities.

By using and growing our gifts, we show God that He can trust us with even more. Just like the nobleman in the parable, Jesus is no longer physically present on Earth, but God has chosen to give us the same gifts He gave His Son. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus even said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12, NLT).

Today's Reflection Question: How am I using and growing the gifts God has invested in me?

Today’s Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me how to nurture my gifts.

Although God invests His gifts in us, it is our responsibility to be wise stewards of those gifts, using them to bring glory to God and not ourselves. Being a wise investment means making sound decisions and taking thoughtful actions in applying the knowledge and good judgment that comes from God. Without wisdom, it's easy to become so focused on the gift that we forget about the Giver and the purpose behind the gift. We may begin to seek personal recognition or praise, allowing pride to overshadow God's intent.

However, when we reflect on I Corinthians 12:7, we are reminded that the gifts we are given are meant to serve and help others. In the very next chapter, scripture emphasizes that these gifts, no matter how extraordinary, are meaningless without love: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (I Corinthians 13:1-3, NLT).

When we consider that we serve a God who is Love and who continually demonstrates His love for us, it makes sense that He commands us to love others in return. Everything we do, especially in the use of our gifts, must be done with love. As scripture says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40, NLT).

Being a wise steward also means using your gifts as led by the Holy Spirit. This may require stepping outside of your comfort zone, serving in ways that challenge you, or offering your gifts in moments of inconvenience. Ultimately, it’s not about how we feel or who we are serving but ensuring that everything we do is done in a way that pleases God and aligns with His will.

Today's Reflection Question: Am I using my gifts in the way God has instructed me to?

Today's Prayer: God, transform my heart to love as You love and to always act out of love. Help me rely on the Holy Spirit to use my gifts wisely and in a way that brings glory to You alone.

Re-read the Parable of the Three Servants in Matthew 25:14-30. You probably noticed that the master gave each of his servants different amounts of silver. To one, he gave five bags of silver, to another, two bags, and to the last, one bag. Like me, you may have wondered why each servant wasn’t given the same amount. Or if the one who received one bag was jealous of the one who received five. But did you notice the key detail at the end of verse 15? It says, “dividing it in proportion to their abilities” (NLT).

The master knew that each of his servants had different abilities, and therefore, he entrusted them with different amounts. God knows each of our abilities because He designed us uniquely. He gives us different gifts that correspond with our abilities and roles. Moreover, He designed us and our gifts to depend on each other, with no part being more important than another (1 Corinthians 12:22-29, NLT).

Each one of us plays a different part in forming the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT). There is no reason to be jealous of someone else’s gift or to wish you had a “better” gift, because “in fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22, NLT). The beautiful aspect of the Parable of the Three Servants is that the servants who invested their master’s money received the same praise and promise of greater responsibilities, even though they started with different amounts. This shows that it’s not about how much you’ve been given, but about how you use what God has entrusted to you.

As you reflect on the lessons from these five days, remember that God has uniquely equipped each of us with gifts, talents, and resources. Our responsibility is to recognize, grow, and wisely use these gifts for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Whether it’s one bag or five, what matters most is how we invest in the Kingdom. Let us trust in God’s design, be bold in our actions, and serve with love, knowing that our faithful stewardship will bear fruit in His perfect time.

Today’s Reflection Question: Am I grateful and content with the gifts God has given me? Am I using them as an active member of the body of Christ?

Today's Prayer: Holy Spirit, show me the value of the gifts You have given me and how they contribute to the body of Christ. Help me to use them in a way that honors You and benefits others.