Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

As another school year comes to a close, we educators find ourselves bearing a familiar mixture of emotions.

There is gratitude for God’s faithfulness. A sense of relief that summer is near. Joy in having seen students grow and move on to another grade or graduate. And, for many of us, exhaustion. Our profession has a cycle with a beginning and an end. For most of us, we are at or near the end, when our bodies and minds are tired.

The end of a school year naturally invites reflection. We remember the challenges we navigated, both individually and as an institution. We revisit the lessons that succeeded and the ones that did not. We think about the students we taught and wonder how they will do in their next chapter.  

One of my reflections from serving as an interim administrator at Rock Valley Christian School comes from sharing devotional thoughts with the 8th graders during the month of May. We found ourselves returning to two passages of Scripture.

The first is Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. When the master returns, his words to the faithful servants (two out of the three) are remarkably simple: “Well done, good and faithful servant” to both of them. Exact same response to both servants.

Notice what he does not say.

He does not say, “Well done, successful servant.”

He does not say, “Well done, servant whose standardized test scores increased the most.”

He does not say, “Well done, servant who played the lead role in the musical, qualified for the state golf tournament, won the school reading challenge. …”

Instead, he commends faithfulness.

In a profession that often measures success through outcomes, numbers, growth charts, budgets, enrollments, and strategic plans, Jesus reminds us that faithfulness remains the primary calling of Kingdom work.

Christian educators spend their days investing in lives that are still being formed by the work of the Spirit. Much of the fruit of our work cannot be measured in a single school year or by a number. Some of it may not be visible for years—or even decades. I’m thinking about—

• a student who learned to persevere through family challenges.
• a child who discovered that they are deeply loved by God, even though friendships were difficult to develop.
• a family who experienced Christ’s grace via a school community in the midst of losing a loved one.
• a graduate who remembers a counselor who believed in them when they struggled to believe in themselves.

These are Kingdom investments.

Like the servants in the parable, we are entrusted with gifts, opportunities, students, resources, and moments of influence. Our calling is to be faithful while knowing we will not always be successful.

As my interim concludes, I have been reminded repeatedly of the extraordinary faithfulness that exists in Christian schools—

• Teachers arriving early and staying late.
• Staff members quietly serving behind the scenes.
• Board members making difficult decisions with wisdom and courage.
• Coaches, paraprofessionals, donors, and volunteers giving of themselves generously for the sake of student flourishing.

The story of Christian education is often written through thousands of unseen acts of faithfulness. Yet God sees every one of them.

The second passage highlighted our theme for the year, Running the Race, from Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Christian education is not a sprint. It is a marathon. The 8^th graders and I discovered that the winners of the early Greek competitions were not the fastest runners but those who could run the longest.

Our race is long. Our work is demanding. Our challenges are real. But we do not run alone.

We are surrounded by faithful saints who have gone before us. We are supported by colleagues who run alongside us. Consider those you celebrated at the end of the year—those who retired from a lifetime of service. Most importantly, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus—the One who called us, sustains us, and ultimately completes the work He has begun and invites us into.

As summer begins, I invite Christian educators to embrace two simple practices.

First, rest intentionally.

Not merely by stopping work, but by allowing yourself to receive God’s gift of Sabbath. Many educators spend ten months pouring themselves out for others, including Saturday tournaments and Sunday lesson preparations. Summer provides an opportunity to remember that your value and identity comes from being God’s son or daughter before it comes from being a teacher, administrator, coach, or leader.

Give yourself permission to rest. The school will survive without you for a few weeks. (This point is getting tested as I am currently “resting” in Portugal and Spain!)

Second, reflect.

Take time to ask and maybe write out responses to a few simple questions:

• Where did I see God’s faithfulness this year?
• What did God teach me?
• Who invested in me? (Whom might I want to thank)?
• Where do I sense God inviting me to grow next year?

Reflection turns experience into wisdom. Without it, we simply move from one school year to the next. With it, God uses our experiences to shape us into wiser and more faithful servants.

At CACE, we have the privilege of serving Christian educators around the world. Every year, we are inspired by your commitment to students, your dedication to Christian formation, and your perseverance in a calling that deeply matters.

As you finish this lap around the track, hear these words not as a final verdict, but as an encouragement for the journey:

Well done. Thank you for your faithfulness.