20 October 2021

39But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more, will be demanded.

Three simple things that we are to learn from today’s Gospel. Jesus speaks to us all as the “homeowner.” We would guard our material possessions and our homes which we have built. We go to great lengths to protect the things of this life, but we need to pay the same if not more attention to our eternal lives. Again I remind you of what I said yesterday, Jesus is not only coming in some future apocalyptical event, though we must be very aware that that day could be today, he is coming today in ways and in situations that we need to be expecting him. We need to live in anticipation of God’s hand in our lives.

We know this and therefore we will be judged as people who know this.

Here too, Jesus reminds us that we are servants of God who have been put in a position of leadership in the world. The best example of this “wise manager” of verse 42 is Joseph in Potiphar’s house. (Read Genesis 39). We have been put in charge of the world. Not the politicians not the people of the world but the people of God.  The people of the world think that they rule the world and they hold the positions of power. But it is we who are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God and who have accepted our role in and with and through Christ, that are the ones who are called to be stewards of everything that God has given us. Politicians will be judged for what they have done in this world and the way they have used and abused their power. But we will be judged more, for we know the way the truth and the life and we know what is expected of us.

Today let us accept our task as the stewards, the servants whom God has left to care for his household. Let us be ready for service, devoted to caring for the things entrusted to us.

If Jesus was coming today and today was the last day of the world as you know it. What would you do differently? Well, Jesus is here! Is with us! What will he find us doing today? How will we be showing his character to the world? Just for a moment, imagine if every Christian the world over treated every situation as if it was a moment to glorify God.  If every word was speaking blessing over the world. Every action must be an act of love. This must be our intention. We should not separate secular and holy. Our lives must be solely holy. Seek the Lord in all you do, use every opportunity to serve the Lord and bring peace, love, joy and hope into the world.

The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” ( Contemporary English Version)

Jesus came to serve and not to be served, and we must walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

May you, today and always be the good and faithful servant who the Lord finds doing His will.

Love and peace

Andrew.