Luke 12: 35 – 48 NLT
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
As we make decisions in life, we look back on what has happened before. Our past experience likely gives us insight on what would be the best decision now. We also take a good look at the present circumstances as we figure out what we should do. But we also look ahead. What we do now, can affect what happens in the future. For example, we may decide to buy a more expensive item since we think it will last longer, or we save money to help our children with education costs, or we save money for retirement.
Jesus asks us in these verses we read today to concentrate on looking forward. Decide what we do today based on the future. He starts with a story of a man who is attending a wedding feast. In that time, wedding feasts could last a week. A person may stay the whole week or may return home anytime during that week. So, the servants at the man’s house need to be ready for his return whenever that may happen.
In usual circumstances, when the master returns home, the servants spring into action. They would have had the house ready, but now they would prepare a meal or do whatever the master asked them to do. But in Jesus’ story, when the master returns to a well-kept home, “he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.” (v. 37 – 38)
This story reflects the day when Jesus returns to earth again – his second coming. When Jesus left, He gave us some instructions about what we are to do in his absence. These verses in Acts reflect the story Jesus told his disciples in today’s verses: Jesus “replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 7 – 8)
Peter wanted to know if this story about being prepared applied to everybody or just a few chosen people (servants). Jesus goes on to talk about what will happen when he returns to earth. The servants who totally ignored the master’s instructions and partied it up will be “banished with the unfaithful”. Those are people who reject Jesus outright, who could care less about God. The master actually means nothing to them. Then we get a list of people who do serve the master, but don’t do it that well. Depending on how much they understood about the master’s requirements, their punishment will vary from more severe to very light.
Jesus asks you and me to make decisions in this life based on the future. When Jesus comes again, and you meet him face to face – what will you say? “I’ve lived a good life, and raised some great kids, had a lovely home and did well in my job. I’ve been a respected person in my community, attended church regularly … Or will you fall at his feet and thank him for all he has done for you, and how he has made your life full of meaning and joy – and you loved to share that with the people you met?
Our song for today is To Be Pleasing You by Maranatha Singers.