Living Faithfully in the Meantime
A Day in the Life of Jesus
When Jesus told the parable of the ten servants, He was nearing Jerusalem. His disciples were caught up in expectation, thinking that the Kingdom of God would burst forth immediately. They had witnessed miracles, heard teaching that turned the world upside down, and seen the opposition of religious leaders grow sharper. Surely, they thought, the moment of glory was just ahead. But Jesus knew their misunderstanding. The Kingdom would come in fullness, yes—but not yet. And so, He told them a story to prepare them for the long in-between.
The nobleman who left to be crowned king represents Jesus Himself. He would soon depart, ascending to the Father, and one day return in power and glory. But what about the time between? That’s where you and I live—between His first coming and His return. The parable makes clear that this in-between time is not passive waiting. It is a season of stewardship, responsibility, and faithfulness. As one commentator noted, “The Kingdom of God is not a possession to be grasped at once, but a trust to be lived until the King returns.”
Faithfulness With What Is Given
The first two servants understood this. They took what their master entrusted and invested it. Their faithfulness was rewarded with greater responsibility. What strikes me is how Jesus links small things to great outcomes. “You have been faithful with little; now rule over much.” The servant did not earn his master’s trust by seizing power or building his own reputation, but by using what was given for the master’s interests.
This speaks directly to us. God has given each of us resources—time, relationships, opportunities, spiritual gifts, financial means. None of these are accidents. They are trusts. When Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful,” he was echoing this very principle. The daily question is not whether I have as much as someone else, but whether I am faithfully using what God has placed in my hands.
Distrust and Fear
The third servant reveals another reality—how distrust can paralyze us. He did nothing with what was given because he feared the master. He saw the king as harsh, unyielding, even unfair. Notice how that perception shaped his actions: he buried his gift, produced nothing, and ultimately condemned himself.
There is a lesson here for us about how we see God. If we see Him only as demanding, we may hide what we have out of fear of failing. If we see Him as indifferent, we may do nothing, convincing ourselves it doesn’t matter. But if we see Him as gracious and just, then we step forward in confidence, trusting that our efforts—though small—are seen and multiplied by Him. As A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” The servant’s distorted view of his master kept him from obedience.
The Kingdom’s Interests vs. Our Own
Another layer of this parable is the servant’s concern for himself. He excused his lack of action by pointing to his own fear. His focus was inward. He was not interested in his master’s kingdom, only in protecting his own skin. This mirrors a temptation in discipleship: living as though God’s Kingdom exists to secure my comfort rather than me existing to serve His purposes.
When Jesus tells this story, He draws a sharp contrast between those who are loyal to the king and those who refuse to acknowledge his rule. The rebellious citizens represent outright rejection of God’s reign. The unfaithful servant, though appearing compliant, shares in their fate. Why? Because he ultimately rejected the master’s call to invest and expand his Kingdom.
Our Time Between
Here is where the parable pierces into our present. We live in the “time between”—after the King has gone to receive His Kingdom, before His return in glory. What are we doing with what He has entrusted to us? The text is clear: God expects His Kingdom to grow. He expects His people to labor for the good of others, to trust His governance, and to live not for themselves but for His glory.
This does not mean we all do the same thing. One invests by discipling children, another by leading in business with integrity, another by caring for the elderly neighbor next door. Faithfulness is measured not by scale but by stewardship. The question Jesus presses upon us is: Am I faithfully using what He has given me?
When I think of my own life, I am reminded that waiting for the Kingdom is not idle. It is active, hopeful, and deeply relational. It means loving people well, sharing the gospel, and cultivating Christlike character in ordinary moments. It means living with open hands, ready to give, serve, and multiply what God has placed in my care.
My prayer for you today is simple: may you see yourself as a trusted steward in God’s Kingdom. What He has placed in your hands is not small or insignificant—it matters deeply. Do not hide it. Do not dismiss it. Invest it in love, in service, in truth. And when the King returns, may He say of you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May your heart be light with joy, your hands eager to serve, and your hope anchored in the promise that His Kingdom will surely come.
Additional Resource
For a helpful reflection on living with faithful stewardship, see this article from Crosswalk .
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Luke 19:11–27, parable of the ten servants, Kingdom of God, faithful stewardship, discipleship, daily devotions, spiritual disciplines, Christian walk, Jesus’ teaching