? Well done! ?

Just because you’re a Christian and you die, doesn’t mean you get a well-done, good and faithful servant. You may have done really well in life and even helped a lot of people, but you only get a well done good and faithful servant if you were a good and faithful servant. Now I know that in the New Covenant we’re sons and not servants, but there is a principle here that still applies to us. The words servant and master imply that we’re yielding to someone else (God) who is giving the directions – we’re not off doing our own thing. This is what it means to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Success is in knowing God and following His directions for your life.
 
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 King James Version (KJV)
 
If you were hiring someone to look after your finances or property or to do something for you, you would only consider hiring someone who was good and faithful. Faithfulness is revealed in consistency and reliability. We don’t trust people who aren’t dependable.  Success is in choosing to be faithful to God and to what He has called you to do. But, relax, God’s love for you and acceptance of you isn’t based on what you do or don’t do. He loves you and accepts you because of Jesus’ faithfulness and finished work, not yours. Even if you don’t finish your work, God still dearly loves you, and because of Jesus’ finished work you are accepted, blessed and highly favoured! You may not get a well done good and faithful servant when you die but you will still get a welcome home, my child!  Finishing your work (your God-given assignment) isn’t about trying to obtain God’s love, acceptance or blessing, it’s about you living a satisfied life because you’re doing what you were created to do!

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:23 King James Version (KJV)

Thou hast been faithful reveals that faithfulness is proven through action, not intentions, and action is what is rewarded, not good intentions. You may intend to do good, but it’s worth nothing unless you actually do it.
 
“So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin.”
James 4:17 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Good intentions not followed through on are an act of disobedience and sin – but thanks be to God that because of Jesus He is not holding our sin against us (Hebrews 10:17)! The point is that you’re not here on earth to merely take up space and wait for heaven; you have a God-given purpose – a divine assignment – which will not be completed by accident. Success is in knowing Jesus and growing as a living sacrifice by continually saying yes to His leading.