The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 often focuses on the extremes - the successful five-talent servant and the fearful one-talent servant. However, the two-talent servant represents most of us, occupying that relatable middle ground between those who seem to have more and those who have less. His story reveals three essential tests that every faithful steward must pass.The first is the eye test - learning to focus on your assignment rather than getting trapped in comparison. The two-talent servant could have wasted time wondering why others received more or analyzing how he was better than the one-talent servant. Instead, he demonstrates the wisdom of minding your own business while still learning from the community around him. The second test is the ear test, which involves hearing and following God's voice. Unlike the one-talent servant who had an irrational fear of his master, the two-talent servant understood his master's heart and expectations. He chose to follow the example of the faithful five-talent servant rather than the fearful one, showing humility in learning from someone else's success.The most crucial test is the heart test - the foundation of trust that reveals our true relationship with God. Poor stewardship isn't really about resources; it's about the condition of our hearts and how we relate to the One who has trusted us with what belongs to Him. Every steward has a twofold responsibility: to protect what they've been given and to expand it. God never expects to receive back exactly what He gave - His expectation is increase alongside protection. The two-talent servant succeeded because he understood that faithfulness requires both preservation and multiplication, demonstrating trust in his master's character and living with a kingdom agenda for everything entrusted to him.