If you’ve been following along this series in your Bible at home, you’ll know that we finished the series on the Sermon on the Mount last week. At that point, I returned to the Gospel passage from the revised common lectionary, which gives four readings for each Sunday and festival in the liturgical calendar: one Psalm, one OT, one Epistle, and one gospel reading. There are three cycles, beginning with the first Sunday in Advent, identified as years A, B and C. We’re in Cycle C this year, which uses the Gospel of Luke.
And what do you know? At this very moment, the lectionary finishes up Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, and then adds a few extra warnings about the dangers of failing to take his words seriously. So if it sounds today as if I’m still harping on the same basic themes as I have been for the last 7 months, well, I am. Because Jesus did.
Now, the lectionary reading is actually a little different from the text I’m preaching from. The first part was a parallel passage to one I’ve already preached on. So, I started at verse 35 instead of at verse 32. And then, as I looked at the material more carefully, I realized that verses 41-48 are actually a repetition of the lesson in v. 35-40, but amplified for the disciples’ benefit. Because after Jesus said the words we read just a moment ago, Peter asked a question. Trust Peter to ask the question everybody wants to know but doesn’t want to sound stupid for asking!
What Peter said was, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” [v. 41] And Jesus answered with another illustration: “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. [v. 42-48]
What we have here are three stories addressing the same theme: what to do until while waiting for Jesus to come back. First is the story of household servants awaiting their master’s return from a wedding feast; [v. 35-38] the second one is really a footnote to the first, making the unexpected break-in of the thief equivalent to the unexpected return of the master. [39-40] Third is the story of servants at different levels of readiness for the return of their master. [42-48] These parables follow immediately on the heels of a story about a rich farmer God called a fool for gloating over his possessions without giving any thought to eternity - which came along much sooner than he anticipated. [v. 12:15-21] That’s the context in which Luke puts Jesus’ teaching about not worrying about possessions, but to store up treasures in heaven.
With that as our context, let’s take a look at how Jesus approaches this theme of paying careful attention to the important stuff, namely eternity, which is to say his final return at the day of judgment. He comes at us from two different angles. First he encourages the faithful, and then he warns the faithless.
Jesus gives three different examples or descriptions of being faithful:
First, he calls us to “be dressed for action” [12:35a]. Actually, the old English of the King James is helpful here - “Let your loins be girded.” Remember that in those days people wore long robes that literally dragged around in the dust. They were bulky and cumbersome. But they were also conveniently belted around the waist so that at need all the extra fabric could be tucked up out of the way. And so what Jesus is saying is, keep yourself ready to respond to the call of the gospel. Don’t burden yourself in such a way that you can’t take quick action.
It’s the same sort of thought Paul seems to have in mind in Ephesians 6 when he advises Christians to wear their spiritual armor at all times: “...fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace." [Eph 6:14-15]
Dressing for success Gospel style means being ready for the next thing God has for you to do. Think of being ready as not living too tightly tied to your own future plans - whether short or long term. Being ready means being constantly prepared, or at least willing, to move into something brand new when Jesus calls. Don’t think of yourself as locked into your career from now until Jesus comes. What else might Jesus have for you? Who’s the next person Jesus might want to use you to reach? Your house is paid for? Good. Now, what’s the next thing Jesus might want you sponsoring in His Kingdom?
Remember that Jesus has just told of the rich man who, when considering his future, couldn’t think of anything but building bigger barns to store more stuff. Jesus calls us instead to be looking outward, ready to move, to change, to expand our vision and horizons. If we’re locked into only one way of thinking about the future - if we’re not open to the possibility of moving into whatever adventure Jesus may have signed us up for - then we’re unprepared for His return.
Now for the second example of readiness: “Keep your lamps lit.” [v.12:35b] Now one of the most common images in the New Testament is a brightly burning lamp. You can see why: without a lamp, you can’t see at all. A lit lamp means seeing and understanding. It also means being seen. If you HAVE a lamp, you know where you’re going IN the dark, and if you ARE a lamp other people can follow you OUT of the dark.
Being ready for Jesus requires being aware of where we are and where we’re going. Meaning well isn’t enough. We have to be informed. We have to understand what Jesus wants before we can do it. Later on, in this very parable, a servant is going to get beaten because he didn’t know the master’s will. [v. 48] The fact that he was punished for not knowing shows he was expected to know. And of course we know where to go to find out, don’t we. Peter reminds us that “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” [2 Pt 1:19] You can’t go wrong if you go by the Book... Now of course I don’t mean by that a rigid literality, but that’s another sermon. The point is, you’ve got to know the Scriptures if you’re planning on following Jesus.
Shine the light of God’s Word brightly into this dark world and you won’t always be popular. But far more important than that, you will always know where you’re going. And you will be ready for Jesus when He comes again.
Part two of this lamp image has to do with being seen. Remember, “Let your light so shine before people that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” [Mt 5:16] Our very presence in this world is to be like salt, keeping our culture from rotting and giving it flavor. And so our actions and our words are to be such that people will be less comfortable with sin just because we are around. Remember what Paul said to the Ephesians: “Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible.” [Eph 5:8-13]
We tend to get it backwards, don’t we. We are often intimidated out of demonstrating a higher standard of righteousness than the world; we fear being called holier-than-thou. But the Bible says it should be the other way around. It’s the wicked who should feel intimidated by our presence. Our behavior should contrast with and highlight the stupidity and ugliness of sin.
Now on to the third example of readiness: Being ready for Jesus’ arrival will mean fighting fatigue and weariness: “If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.” [v. 38] Everything is tougher to do at three in the morning. Time drags. Your metabolism slows down. Passion wanes, vision dims. The tasks you felt up to at two o'clock in the afternoon can seem overwhelming.
Being prepared for Jesus’ return doesn’t mean never sleeping. But it does mean sleeping lightly, with everything you need to spring into action ready at hand. It means pacing yourself, so that you don’t find yourself unable to function when the crucial moment arrives. There are times that are favorable, and times that are unfavorable. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up...” [Ec 3:1-3] Some times are great seasons of harvest; at other times all you do is weed and dig and plant seeds. Those are just seasons of sowing and cultivating. You’re not getting anything visible back from all your efforts. And sometimes it feels as though you’re not accomplishing anything, and it’s easy to get discouraged.
But if you don’t understand that these seemingly unfruitful times are part of the necessary work of being ready, if everything you invest in obedience must have immediate payback for you to stay on task, you won’t be ready. You’ll grow weary and quit. But Paul has helpful words about that, too. “let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” [Gal 6:9]
So here are the three elements of readiness: First, be ready to move quickly into whatever is next on the master’s agenda. Second, have your mind filled with the light of God’s truth. Third, fight fatigue, and discouragement by recognizing that there is difference between times of sowing and times of reaping.
Because the rewards of being faithful and prepared are simply breathtaking: “Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them." [v. 37-38] If those words didn’t come from the lips of Jesus, we wouldn’t dare to believe them. But he said it, so it’s true. Jesus will serve his faithful followers with his own hands. Do you look forward to that day? I pray that he will find me faithful.
But the passage has another side to it. Jesus has a whole lot more to say on the subject, not nearly as pleasant. Because just as he gave us 3 examples of readiness, he gives us 3 kinds of unreadiness. In verses 45-48, Jesus describes three servants who fail the readiness test. But while all fail, all are not punished alike. Why not?
Well, the first slave deliberately disobeyed the master, saying “in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and [began] to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk." [v. 45] This is the worst possible case, faithlessness in the first degree, so to speak. Jesus responds to this behavior with these words: “the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” [v. 46] These very sobering words go right to the heart of Peter’s question, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” [v.41] Jesus doesn’t directly answer the question, but the answer is clear nonetheless. This servant was an senior employee with specific duties and responsibilities, from whom the master had every reason to expect competent, faithful service. You can practically hear him telling the master as he sets out on the journey, “Yes sir, certainly sir, you can count on me to take care of everything.” But for all his fine words, he will end up with the unbelievers.
But not all the unfaithful servants ended up in the outer darkness. Only this one is singled out for such drastic treatment. Why? Because he deliberately used his position of responsibility and trust not only to misbehave himself but to abuse the people he was charged to care for. Few things anger God more than a deliberate betrayal of trust that actively abuses others. Far too many people sitting in the pews of Christian churches all around this country do the very kinds of things this servant is condemned for, whether it is sexual immorality, financial misconduct, substance abuse or domestic violence. They know better, and yet they either seem to think that no-one is watching, or that somehow they can explain it away.
The second slave was punished, too, but for sins of omission, not commission. He got lazy, and just didn’t do what he was supposed to do. “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes.” [v. 47] This is a little different from the first slave. Mind you, he too knew what the master’s will was. But he simply didn't get around to it. Perhaps he thought he had plenty of time, and that he could scramble at the last minute and pull things together. Perhaps he thought he could get away with it because, after all, the senior servant, the one left in charge, was so much worse that he’d look like a saint by comparison. But if the work isn’t getting done, what use is he? That’s the whole point of having servants! The slave is expected to work. Getting a beating is getting off light; the master could have fired him - or sold him.
The apostle Paul thought a great deal about this idea of productivity in the Lord’s work: remember last week’s epistle reading: “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire. [1 Cor 3:12-15]
Just as we’re not all going to be rewarded equally in heaven, we will not all be punished in exactly the same way for our unfaithfulness. The Lord is absolutely just. He will do exactly the right thing. But we need to look very carefully at the quality of our service. Just saying “Lord, Lord,” isn’t enough to earn those coveted words, “well done, my good and faithful servant.” [Mt 25:21] In fact, it looks like many half-hearted Christians will receive some kind of very unpleasant consequence at Jesus’ return, although short of being cast out. There are an awful lot of Christians who know their Bibles backwards and forwards, yet who never take more than a few baby steps of obedience. It’s not how much you know, folks... it’s what you do with it that counts. And it counts forever.
The last of our three servants didn’t do what he should have done, but was punished less harshly even than the second one, because he was ignorant. He didn’t know what his job was: “... the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating."[v. 48a] Here, obviously, ignorance is bliss... But that doesn’t give us an excuse not to study our Bibles! Because if we know nothing else, we know - because I’ve just told you, if nothing else - that Jesus wants us to know the Word of God. We have been given an enormous gift, and with it comes an enormous responsibility. We are literate. We have more Bibles than most of us know what to do with, while in some countries a single Bible is shared by an entire congregation. Why do we spend so little time with ours? We take it for granted. And we must not. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” [v. 48b]
So if you and I want those wonderful words of benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” we will have to be - well - both good AND faithful. And they aren’t synonyms. To be good is to stay clean. To be faithful is to stay productive.
Back in the dawn of time, when I was a child, my mother had a book called “What to Do Until the Doctor Comes.” In those days doctors actually made house calls for emergencies. But the point was that although the doctor was the one who would eventually - hopefully - make things right, there were things a responsible parent could and should do in the meantime. Yes, Jesus is the one who will make everything right. Jesus is the one who is in charge of history, both on an individual basis and for the whole world. But our job is important, too. And if we don’t get it right, we’ll be sorry.
Eventually Peter does get his question answered. “Lord, are these strong words just for those people out there who don’t know you, who need to be nervous about your return, or are they for us too?” They’re for you, all right, Peter. They’re for all of God’s servants, and that’s us: the whole church. There’s more to being ready than most Christians think. True, we’re not saved by works of service. We’re saved by grace. But we are saved FOR works of service. And the only proof we value our Master and Lord above all else is that we are still faithfully doing His will, so that His coming won’t catch us spiritually asleep like a thief in the middle of the night.
With Jesus’ help we can do all these things. With Jesus’ help, and by God’s grace, we will be ready. Are you? Are you ready to move out at a moment’s notice? Are your mind and heart filled with the word of God? Can you handle fatigue and discouragement without giving up? If it all sounds like too much for you, remember: with God all things are possible. Even following Jesus.
