Sunday 12 August, 2012

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 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 to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Jesus has just completed a long dialogue on the kingdom of heaven and how to practically approach issues of everyday life with an eternal perspective and Peter approaches him and rightly asks for clarification. It is clear that Jesus is covering a lot of complex issues and Peter (and possibly many of the other disciples) are struggling to follow. I can imagine them nudging one another saying “no, you ask him!”

Interestingly, Christ's response does not seem to answer Peter's question. He actually continues along the same analogy of a master and a steward. Christ's message to Peter has many layers and refers to issues of salvation at the same time as it refers to issues of recognisi

ng God's sovereignty and the need to take care of the things which God has entrusted to us.

When I am faced with a situation in life that seems confusing, do I become frustrated and confused? Do I do what the disciples may have done and try to get someone else to approach God on my behalf to ask for clarification? Am I bold enough to seek God in the confusion and wait on Him for His peace?

What about the issues of salvation, sovereignty and stewardship? Do I have a real understanding of these concepts and am I fulfilling what this passage is calling: To be ready for the Master's return and to recognise all possessions as truly His?

Written by Justin Ware