Question by Prince G from Agra
Answering Prince’s Question in the Light of Scripture and the Spirit
“Goodness is not achieved by effort — it is the fruit of God’s life within.”
Thank you, Prince, for your thoughtful question from Agra. It goes to the heart of the Christian life. “What must I do to be considered a good and faithful servant?” — This is not just a question about behaviour, but about the state of one’s union with Christ and spiritual maturity in the Kingdom.
Let us begin by examining the Lord’s own words:
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’”
— Matthew 25:21, AMP
What Does It Mean to Be a Good and Faithful Servant? #
| Aspect | Meaning | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Good (Greek: agathos) | Morally excellent, upright, godly, generous, led by God’s goodness | This is not natural goodness, but the fruit of God’s character in us — “There is none good but God.” |
| Faithful (Greek: pistos) | Loyal, trustworthy, dependable, steady under trial | The servant is not swayed by circumstance, but remains obedient to what was entrusted. |
| Servant (Greek: doulos) | A bond-slave, fully surrendered to the will of his master | Not working for personal ambition, but for the Master’s pleasure alone. |
The Basis of Faithful Service #
Many assume faithfulness is measured by how much you do, but in the parable, the one who received two talents was just as faithful as the one with five, because he was faithful with what was entrusted to him.
“Faithfulness is measured by obedience to what you’ve been given, not what others do.”
What matters is:
- Obedience in the little—not just big ministry or visible success.
- Stewardship of your portion — using your time, gifts, and opportunities in submission to the Lord.
- Loyalty to Christ — even when no one sees.
“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2, NKJV
Fruitfulness Comes from Union with Christ #
And here is the most important truth: no one can be good or faithful in themselves. These are not natural human qualities — they are the fruit of Christ living in us by the Holy Spirit.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5, AMP
This means:
- You cannot be faithful unless the faithfulness of Christ is formed in you (Galatians 2:20).
- You cannot be good unless the goodness of God flows through your new heart (Romans 7:18; Philippians 2:13).
- You cannot truly serve unless you are dead to the world, dead to Adam, dead to self, and alive unto God in the Spirit.
“For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live.”
— Romans 8:13, AMP
The Role of the Spirit in True Service #
To be a “good and faithful servant,” then, is not just about effort — it is about:
True servants are not performers — they are those who live by the life of the Holy Spirit living in them.”
- Living by the Spirit (Romans 8:14)
- Yielding fully to Christ within you (Galatians 2:20)
- Being governed by the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21)
Final Word #
All this is only possible when Christ is in you, you are moved by the Holy Spirit, you are dead to the world, dead to Adam and the flesh, but alive in Christ and the Spirit. Without this transformation, service becomes a performance. But with this union, service becomes fruit — effortless, beautiful, and acceptable.
“And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
— Colossians 3:17, AMP
Hope this helps, dear Prince — not only for you but for many who seek to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
In Christ,
Shaliach.
