What will be found in the end?

Recently I heard a lecture where it was suggested that an argument in favour of social action can be made from an eschatological perspective. In outline it asks "what will be found in the end?". Will it reveal that an effort was made whilst still here on earth as we know it, or will we have effectively hid our salvation in the ground?

Matt 24:36 through to 25:46 seems to weigh in here.

• Faithful & wise servants will get on with their assigned tasks and not squander/mis-use their resources or time
• A call for readiness, being prepared for that end-time moment
• Proper investment action rather than static preservation
• The caring for the needy

If we take the 'least of these' to be generally the poor rather than just Christians (some would disagree on this) then there is a progression to be seen:

• Stick to the task throughout the waiting ...
  
• because you need to be ready when the right time comes ...
• a readiness demonstrated by what you have done ...
• with the investment currency being work amongst the poor

So what will be found in the end? A static salvation preserved carefully in the ground, or the fruit of an ongoing investment in those in need around us, biased to the poor.