When I was a kid, my dad encouraged me to be courageous and not play it safe. He could see how tempted I was to overthink a situation or to hedge my bets. “Do something!” he would say. Then in jest, he would add: “Even if it’s wrong, do something!”

We find similar wisdom in Jesus’ parable of the three servants. Before leaving on a trip, the master summoned the trio and gave them money to steward during his absence. He divided the money “in proportion to their abilities” (Matthew 25:15)—the first received five talents (a talent was approximately 15 years of wages), the second two talents, and the third one talent. The master gave his workers what they could handle and no more.

When the man returned, the first two had doubled their talents. The master lavished praise on both of them despite their different totals. He said to them both, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:21,23).

The third servant, however, was lazy and deceptive. He chose to simply hide his master’s money. The master asked, “Why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it” (Matthew 25:27). The master was happy with the first two workers despite their unequal results. And, graciously, it appears he would have even been content with the interest the third could have earned from a savings account. What he couldn’t abide, however, was a servant who would return his careful instruction with irresponsibility. I hear this master echoing my dad: “Go do something.”

Likewise, our gracious, loving God invites us to steward well what He’s lavished on us!

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 28:1-25