Living Faithfully Even When No One Is Watching

Living Faithfully Even When No One Is Watching

Luke 12:35–48

Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

Luke 12:35 “Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit. 36 “You are also to be like people

who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that

they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed

are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say

to you, that he will prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he

will come up and serve them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even

in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

Luke 12:39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what

hour the thie was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

40 “You too, be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do

not think He will.”

Luke 12:41 Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone else as

well?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his

master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?

43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 44 Truly I say

to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 “But if that slave says in

his heart, ‘My master will take a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the other

slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46 then the master of

that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not

know, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “And

that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accordance with

his will, will receive many blows, 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed

acts deserving of a beating, will receive only a few blows. From everyone who has been

given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they

will ask all the more.

Perhaps they speak harshly, act selfishly, or show little regard for the teachings of Jesus.

In church, they may be quick to point out the faults of others, yet they resist correction

themselves—even when the evidence is undeniable.

Such behavior is not limited to individuals. We see it in public figures, especially

politicians, who deny their words even when confronted with video proof. But this isn’t

just about politics. It’s about human nature. It’s about all of us. And it’s about how we

live when we think no one is watching.

In Luke 12:35–48, Jesus shares two parables that speak directly to this issue. These

parables have often been interpreted as references to His Second Coming, and rightly

so. But today, I want us to consider a more practical application: how we live our lives

day to day, knowing that we will one day stand before the Lord.

Jesus teaches that the Son of Man may return at any moment. Whether He comes

eventually, we must be ready. That readiness is not just about attending church or giving

offerings, it’s about how we treat others, how we speak, and how we live when no one

else is watching.

As someone who has pastored churches for over 25 years, I’ve seen this firsthand. Early

in my ministry, I was sent to fill in at various congregations. I would intentionally sit in

pews where I thought others might want to sit. More than once, someone would

approach me and say, “You’re in my pew. Get out.” And then, moments later, I’d be

introduced as the guest preacher. The look on their faces was unforgettable—but the

rudeness was deeply saddening.

Such behavior makes it difficult for visitors to feel welcome. In some churches, pews

are even marked with brass plates from colonial times, indicating who paid for them.

Ironically, those front-row seats, once the most expensive, are now often the least

occupied.

The heart of these parables is simple: live as if Jesus is watching because He is. We do

not know the day or hour we will meet Him, whether through His return or our passing.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to reflect His glory, not our authority. We cannot

claim to follow Jesus while violating the very principles He taught.

This presents a challenge in today’s culture. Society typically promotes values that