I am a student of leadership, and as such I am always looking for insights on how I can best bolster my own shortcomings in the area.
Today I found some interesting nuggets of revelation I had not considered in my past readings of the parable of the talents. I want to thank the Pastor Brad Powell of Northridge Church in Plymouth Michigan for his teaching. You can find the link to the applicable service here.
In Matthew 25:14-30 we have the Parable of the Talents. There are a few simple truths that have escaped me until today.
Profitable servants don’t need instructions. They just need a mandate and the resources.
The master did not give instructions on how they were to increase his goods. But it was apparent that they had an expectation that by having his goods they were to do so.. The best producers take it upon themselves and take ownership over taking what has been given to them and making more of it. Anyone that’s not willing to make the talent better than what it was before. Is simply a servant that hasn’t had the opportunity to be rebuked yet by the master.
Profitable servants don’t operate without connecting with others
Talent reproduction requires interfacing with others. You can’t do it alone. What skills sets are required to be aggressive enough to “trade” with another. The profitable servants exchanged value. Profitable servants understand that their job is to increase the value of that which they possess. This requires recognizing the value in others and in what others have to trade with with.
Profitable servants are not content or satisfied with where they are.
There is every reason to think that the servants would have continued to trade to the masters benefit. Good servants don’t stop. They don’t stop until the master arrives and give an accounting. They don’t stop until they reap the reward given to them by the master.
Profitable servants don’t make excuses.
Great leaders are only interested in what it takes to get the job done. Period. The profitable servants didn’t make excuses for the expectations of the master. Nor did they give response that the masters expectations where to high or unreasonable.
Profitable servants don’t complain about the talents given them.
No where do we read that the servants complained that a co-servant didn’t deserve the talent given them. Nor do we hear them complain about why they didn’t get more. They simply produced with what was given.
Profitable servants don’t complain about the master
The unprofitable servant told the master all that he was, and was able to articulate accurately the expectations of his master. And used his master as an excuse not to produce.
These are not the only truths one can glean from the scripture. I’m sure others can articulate more or even expand on the ones already given. What I do know is that I am once again challenged to be a good and faithful servant in every area I am called to serve.
What about you? Is there a particular area listed above you still need to grow in? Leave a comment below.
Thanks for dropping by!
D