Jesus talks about faithful servants many times in His parables. Because servants are willing to serve. It’s their job.
But there are many kinds of servants. One is a hard worker and learns what the master is like and goes over and above what is required of him because he knows the master’s heart and how the master feels in return.
The other kind of servant also knows what the master is like; but instead of going above and beyond what the master may want he barely does what is required. And, if he thinks he can get away with it, will not perform his tasks at all.
The parable is really about what we do when nobody is looking. What is our real character like?
The second is about patience and outcome.
How long should we toil at a task that Is not producing.
The fig tree gives us an example. And though not a formula; it does say that four years is a good time line to nurture someone, with the third year being an all out effort to see if the tree will produce any fruit.
And then, it is up to God to do a new planting with that person. We can’t produce for someone else, they have to want God for themselves. We get to water and make their ground as receptive as possible, but the fruit is their own with God’s supply.
Pastor Brent