1. The master chose the servants to whom he entrusted His goods.
2. The Master gave to each servant according to ability. Though a servant might feel overwhelmed at first, he couldn't say that it was impossible. The master knew that the servants could, or else he wouldn't have chosen them.
3. The master didn't tell the servants how to get increase or how much increase to get. Those matters were left to the mind and heart of each servant.
4. The master expected an increase from each servant. If not, why did he reprimand severely the last servant?
Observations:
- The opposite of "good and faithful" is not "bad and unfaithful" but "wicked and slothful."
- Character ("good") and competence ("faithful") both go into becoming successful.
- What you end with is just as important as what you start with.
- Beware, lest "good and faithful" be focused only on maintenance and not on growth or increase.
- If you don't know how, ask those who do. How come the third servant didn't ask for help from the other two?
- What distinguished the third servant from the first two was fear. (Of whom or what are you afraid?)
- There is always a way to increase, small of an increase as it might be (v. 26). Creativity should never be sought as a magic replacement for common sense.
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