Week #36 – Much More Will Be Required From Those Entrusted With Much

Luke 12:41-48 – Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 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? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, `My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 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. “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 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.

Peter speaks up for all of us, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”   Jesus gives His answer in the form of another parable, and, when you hear it or read it, you just can’t help realize that it’s meant for YOU!  In this follow up parable Jesus speaks of two kinds of managers.  He speaks in such a way that we ought to know that each one of us fits one or the other description.  We are first of all caused to consider ourselves as “managers” or “stewards.”  The Lord has put each of us in the place of responsibility for a number of others.  He says that our charge is, “to give them their food allowance at the proper time.”  The faithful and wise manager will do just that.  Christ Jesus promises reward and blessing for the steward who conducts himself with wisdom and faithfulness.  He will be put in charge of all his Master’s possessions!  Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon are fine examples to illustrate this truth.  Joseph was wise and faithful and Pharaoh, his master, put him in charge of all of Egypt.  Daniel was wise and faithful and he was made the third highest ruler in the land of Babylon.  Both of these men were foreigners who had been brought as captives into the land they ended up helping to rule.

But!  Sadly, not everyone dedicates himself to serving his master’s agenda.  Suppose the steward throws wisdom and faithfulness to the wind and, under the guise of authority, he assumes his own agenda that is vastly different from the assignment his master gave him.  Convincing himself that there is no superior authority to hold him accountable (and if there is, it’s not going to show up in his term of office), he begins to beat up on the men and women that he’s supposed to be serving.  He also uses his resources for partying, feasting and drinking and getting high.  Our Lord promises that the master of that servant will show up on a day and hour when he doesn’t expect him, and the consequences will not be pretty!  He will slice him to shreds and give him a new assignment in a place with other unbelievers!  This word is a wakeup call for those who have forsaken their assignments, are not serving God-given agenda, and have tyrannically served their own.  Don’t deceive yourselves!  There is a day of reckoning and it’s sure to be a day of surprise to you!

Jesus wraps up this parable with a final word for all of us.  Those who KNOW our master’s will and do not do it or perform our service for his satisfactory inspection, will be beaten with MANY blows!  But those who DO NOT KNOW our master’s expectations and ignorantly do things deserving of his punishment, will be beaten with FEW blows!  Knowledge brings greater accountability!  Ignorance is no excuse!  Failure in both categories results in painful consequences.  Much will be expected from EVERYONE who has been entrusted with much!  So, who is this parable for?  It is for EVERYONE!  It is for husbands!  It is for wives!  It is for parents!  It is for teachers!  It is for pastors!  It is for bosses!  It is for laborers!  It is for presidents!  It is for governors!  It is for congressmen and women!  It is for judges!  It is for entertainers!  It is for children!  It is for youth!  It is for adults of all ages!  IT IS FOR EVERYONE!   How much have you been entrusted with?  Don’t abuse this sacred and precious trust!  Be faithful and wise!

Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.

Friday: Pray for the families of the week: Steve & Allison Worrall (Anabel, Matthew, Reuben), Alberto & Kasandra and Alberto Jr., Joe Beyma.

Saturday: Inventory all the people in your life that you are responsible to serve?

Sunday: Pray for wisdom and faithfulness as you serve those you are in charge of!

Monday: Wisely and faithfully serve the people God has entrusted to you!

Tuesday: Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that your Master will not justly reward or punish your labors!

Wednesday: Be sure to take care of the things that are important to God!  You won’t regret it!

Prayer Challenge – “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him”. – Matthew 13:11,12