Sunday 17 November, 2019

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.

This is quite a sobering passage detailing the value God places on faithful servant hood.  There are consequences for being faithful or unfaithful, reward and punishment respectively.  It also talks about the importance of knowing what the master or God wants from us.

As believers we know that there will come a time where we are called to account but we don’t know when.  These verses therefore, advise us to always be ready and not to slacken off or make assumptions about timing.  To always be ready is quite something but is in fact what we are called to do.  We don’t serve in vain though, we are told plainly that there is reward.  It is a great encouragement to use the gifts God has given us and to seek his purposes above our own.

Dear Lord,  help us to understand what you are calling us to do and to remain faithful along the way. Help us to use the gifts and resources you have given us wisely.  Help us not to shy away from responsibility but rather serve faithfully continuously.  Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods