251. A Warning to Us the Stewards of God

Matthew 24:36-51, Luke 12:41-48

Key Verse: Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

Matthew 24:42

We've had the example of a master being gone for a short period of time, perhaps an evening and returning home during the night. We've had the example of the bride, waiting with her friends for the bridegroom. Now, Jesus will give several examples of a master who is actually gone on a journey, over a longer period of time. Yet, the servants who are left behind are still required to remain vigilant for the master's return.

Remember that in Jesus' day there were no cell phones. Sending a message home to a servant could not only be expensive and tedious, and if the servant could not read, ineffective. The master would leave on a journey and be out of communication with his home for the duration. It was important, therefore, to have trustworthy servants who would keep the house running, and in good order so that the master could come home at any time of the day or night, after a day, a month or a year and have the peace of mind that all would be well.

Jesus makes the consequences very clear for the servant who remains faithful to his or her duty, and also makes clear what will happen to the servant who is not. "It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing his duty when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But, suppose the servant says to himself, "My master is taking a long time in coming," and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him into pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers." (Luke 12:43-47) That wicked servant was an unbeliever because he lost faith in the belief that his master would return.

"Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) We do not see our Lord in the clouds, but He has promised that He will return. In the meantime, He has assigned us the responsibility of caring for what, and who, He has created. If we get distracted and take our blessings and responsibilities to comfort and advance ourselves at the expense of our fellow travelers, Jesus may see us as unfaithful. We may become lazy because we didn't really believe in His return. However, if we prove ourselves trustworthy with the tasks to which we have been assigned, then great is our reward from the Master Himself.

What a blessing for us that, unlike the servants of Jesus' day, our Lord does stay in communication with us. Through prayer and Bible study, and the wise counsel of fellow servants, we can be fully informed of His will and concerns for not only ourselves, but those around us that He calls us to serve. We may not know the exact time of His return, but we do remain constantly aware of His promise that He is coming. If we truly believe this, it becomes easy to remain vigilant.

I want to be found trustworthy.

Hymn: "If I Gained the World"