When Anita and I eat out at a nice restaurant, sometimes I order a small sirloin steak. They always ask me how I want it cooked, to which I always reply, “Well done”. If I’m going to eat beef, I don’t want any pink in it. I don’t want it tough as my work boot, either. There are a couple of restaurants that cook it nice and tender and its still well done.

Well done means its thoroughly cooked without any pink in the center…brown all the way through. And it can even be black on the outside and I’m good with it. I’m not interested in the ‘appearance’ of well done, I want it cooked brown all the way. The difference is in the flavor. And if its done well, I don’t even add any meat sauce. Well done is good enough for me.

In Matthew 25:21 Jesus was telling a parable to illustrate what the kingdom of heaven is like. To a faithful servant the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” ‘Well done’, then, is a phrase that not only describes how I like steak, but also how the Lord feels about a servant who has been faithful to get the job thoroughly done. Appearance on the outside doesn’t matter, but the faithful servant does it all the way through to the end. And the only way to get well done is to put it through the fire.

And in our parable, the servant was only faithful in a few things. And he was rewarded with greater opportunities. And the Master’s joy became his, as well. God will cheer you up.

How’s your service for the Master coming? What will He say to you on Judgment Day? I hope He’ll say, ‘Well done’.

Tags: service