Matt 25: 14-30 NLT.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip… “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
It is clear that the Master is our Lord Jesus. He is entrusting us to represent His interests when He is away. And He has also given us responsibility commensurate with our abilities and expects us to be diligent in discharging our responsibilities. There is no place for laziness as our Lord rebuked the third servant being given one bag of silver and He called him wicked. If only this servant had earned just one bag of silver, he would have been given the same commendation.
This servant was only concerned about his own profit and not that of his Master. He saw little motivation to work as the profit would go to the Master but if he failed, he would earn the wrath of Him.
That is the stance of the hyper grace believer who is only concerned with his salvation and he masks his reluctance or refusal to do good works by craftily denouncing doing good works as legalism which transgress the doctrine of salvation by faith alone.
(It is without the slightest doubt that salvation is only possible through faith in Christ Jesus alone but the genuine believer is God’s workmanship created for good works. Good works will come naturally out of love and gratitude for the Master. Eph 2:8-10.)
Such irresponsible attitude betrays their loyalty and love for their Master. How dreadful is the punishment by the Master who said thus of those who do nothing but indulge in dissipation thinking it is unmerited favor to enjoy and not work : “But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”