Ironman Raceday: Well Done
The Parable of the Talents — Matthew 25:14–30
Jesus teaches this parable to show what it means to live ready for His return.
He shows us that in the race of life, every disciple is entrusted with something valuable, and one day we will give an account for how we ran with what He placed in our hands.
Matthew 25:21, 23 (NIV)
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
WELL DONE
In the time of Jesus, “well done” meant approval, excellence, and promotion – not completion.
- “Well done” didn’t mean, “You’re finished.”
- It meant, “What you did brought Me joy. You ran this well. You stayed in it. You honored Me. And I have more for you.”
Psalm 147:11 The LORD delights in those who fear Him.
Zephaniah 3:17 He will rejoice over you with singing.
Hebrews 11:6 Faith pleases God.
We don’t just receive encouragement – we give it.
- We find people hurting, limping through life, barely holding on…
- And one word of encouragement from you can change a life‚ can even save a life.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encourage one another and build each other up.
God knows endurance is fueled by encouragement.
Encouragement doesn’t end your suffering – it gives you strength inside the suffering.
Hebrews 12:1 Let us run with endurance the race marked out for us.
Revelation 2:10 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
GOOD AND FAITHFUL
“Good” in Jesus’ day meant far more than behaving well.
- The Greek word for good here describes someone whose inner character has been shaped by God… a heart that still produces goodness even when life produces pain.
Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.
“Good” wasn’t about perfection — it was about a heart God could trust.
Practically: Your actions look like God’s heart…
- Treat people well. Be honest. Be generous. Do what’s right even when no one sees.
- Live in a way that shows His character.
“Faithful” means steady, consistent, reliable — the kind of servant who didn’t quit just because the Master wasn’t visible.
- The Greek word for faithful described someone who kept showing up, kept obeying, kept believing — even during the long silence of waiting.
Luke 18:8 When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
- Faithful didn’t mean flawless —
- it meant you stayed in the race when others walked off the course…
- Practically: Steady, dependable, you don’t quit when it gets hard.
And the enemy loves that whisper: “Speed it up. You’re behind. You’re not doing enough. You should be up there…”
- Faithfulness isn’t speed. Faithfulness is staying on YOUR pace.
- Staying in YOUR lane. Running YOUR race.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.
Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God!
Jesus is not looking for perfect and talented. He is looking for good and faithful.
SERVANT
When Jesus calls you “servant,” He’s not lowering you — He’s lifting you.
- The Greek word here for servant is (doulos). In Jesus’ day it wasn’t a demeaning title.
- It was the highest trust in the Master’s house…
- A doulos did work — but they were also entrusted with the Master’s affairs.
- They carried the Master’s authority.
Jesus entrusts His Kingdom work to those He calls “servant.”
- So when Jesus says “servant,” He’s really saying:
- I trust you with My mission. You carry My authority. You represent Me until I return.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
- This is what true servant-hearted leadership looks like:
- someone who walks with you, runs with you, suffers with you, and encourages you when you’re barely hanging on.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
God uses people to sharpen you, strengthen you, and keep you moving when you feel like stopping.
Proverbs 18:24 There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
John 14:16 I will send you another Helper to be with you forever.
The Holy Spirit is not watching from the finish line.
- He’s not shouting from the bleachers. He’s running beside you.
- He’s whispering strength. He’s carrying the weight you can’t carry.
- He’s guiding your steps when your mind is blurry and your body is empty.
Matthew 25:21 Because you were faithful over the few, I will make you RULER OVER MUCH!
Being a faithful servant is what qualifies you for the MUCH… Multiplication… MORE!
Here is the final part of our scripture… The best part!
ENTER INTO THE JOY / GLORY
Enter into the joy of your Master was Heaven’s declaration of arrival — the celebration, the banquet, the Kingdom, the moment where every tear and every mile finally had meaning.
- You enter His joy. You step into His celebration. You join His feast.
- You participate in His victory.
Romans 8:17 (NIV)
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…
Your suffering had an expiration date… and now your joy begins.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…And now there is in store for me the crown.
Luke 10:20
Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Every single one of us will cross that same final finish line.
That is the moment Jesus steps forward to welcome you home!
- On THAT day… when your name is called in eternity…
- and you take your final step across Heaven’s finish line —
We must prepare so we hear: WELL DONE… GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT… ENTER INTO MY JOY!
- WELL DONE Are you living in a way that brings joy to your Master — or have you let discouragement, distraction, or distance steal your “well done” moments?
- GOOD & FAITHFUL Have you stayed faithful in the little things — or has comparison, weariness, or frustration pulled you out of your race?
- SERVANT Are you carrying the mission Jesus entrusted to you — or have you been trying to run this race without the Holy Spirit at your side?
- ENTER INTO THE JOY If today were your final loop… would you be ready to stand before Him and hear, “Well done… enter into My joy”?