"Seekers of Your Heart: Seeking To Serve Faithfully"
(Luke 12:35-48)
It’s hard for any of us to wait on anything. It is especially hard to wait on the fulfillment of our Lord’s promise to return. During the time of waiting we can become obsessed with the return, neglect preparing for the return or deny the return. Regardless the Christian community, which is not only committed to the truth of the word of God, but seeks to understand God's heart, believes that Jesus is coming to this earth again "in the twinkling of an eye," as the final Judge for the nations. Within that context some of us think he is coming soon, and some think he will come some time but are more concerned with their present ministries. Others among us call themselves followers of Jesus Christ, but they are living out their lifestyles before us as if there will be no accounting to Jesus Christ for the stewardship of their lives, talents, spiritual gifts, and opportunities to serve him during their short stay on this earth.
Well, according to Jesus Christ, as recorded in Luke 12:35-48, he is coming again, not as the Savior of the world, but as the final Judge, and then he will bless the faithful servants, and the unfaithful servants will come into judgment. We have talked in the last few weeks about our need to seek God’s heart as it relates to our giving. We have said that the heart of life is found in all God has rather than the things I can call mine. Last week we said that we are able to give freely when all God has is all I have, need or want. Today I want us to see that I am ready to meet Jesus any day by being a faithful servant of all God has given me everyday.
In light of that reality, the question we will be faced to answer is, "Does your giving show that you are you prepared for Jesus' second coming?"
In the Middle East at that time a rich man would have a large household, and he needed many servants to help him maintain the property, fields, etc. He was known as the lord or master, and he was vested with unquestioned authority. Then there was the office of stewardship, which was held by those who were responsible to their lord for the administration of the household. These stewards were either freemen or bondslaves, and they were responsible to care for not only the property but all the other servants within that household. The steward was responsible to the master for everything that was going on. The key to a well-run household was to have a faithful steward who was willing to fulfill the will of the master. Within that household, all the servants knew that with faithfulness came blessings, but unfaithfulness brought punishment.
In the immediate context our Lord Jesus would have been thinking of the household as the nation of Israel, but in the future he would think of the household of God as the church. We individually and as a church are responsible for the management of His household. Our Lord was standing in the midst of a large crowd and took advantage of this "teachable moment" to alert them to the tremendous consequences of their response to his words, of either blessing to the faithful, or judgment to the unfaithful.
How were they and how are we to be ready?
First, they were to be dressed in readiness. Our Lord gave the disciples a very familiar picture from that culture. It appears that the master had gone away to a wedding feast for several days, but then the time came for him to return. So the chief servant called all the others in the house and informed them that they were to gird their loins (literally, to tuck the back part of the long, flowing robes they wore up into their belts so they would be ready to function) and stand by the door. Then when the master knocked, the door would be immediately flung open, and he could enter in and find his house in order and servants ready to serve him. So our Lord warned his disciples to be prepared for his second coming.
Then they were to keep their lamps alight. The first-century household had little oil lamps consisting of a cotton wick floating in a sauce-boat of oil. This wick had to be kept trimmed and the lamp replenished with oil or the light would soon go out, leaving the household in darkness. According to this passage it appears that the Lord would return to a darkened world, and he wanted to find his disciples shining as "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).
Next, Jesus told his disciples they were to stand by the front door. Why? Because he is coming again! He was telling them about the master's going away to a wedding. A Jewish wedding at that time would last some seven days, and then all the guests would have a final toast and return home.
The overwhelming principle is that because of the uncertainty of his return it commands the certainty of our preparation. That preparation means it is to be so complete that His return is no surprise. Everything in our life and His house is ready. Is that where we are?
Here the master comes to bless the faithful servants. This is a fabulous verse! It says when the master returned to his home and knocked on the door, and the alert servants immediately opened the door and ushered him into his own home, he looked around and found not only his servants in readiness for his return but also the house in order and all the lamps lit. In order to fulfill their master's wishes the servants had set aside their own personal goals, hopes and dreams. And this faithfulness so filled the master's heart with joy that he called in all his faithful servants and ordered them to sit down at the dinner table. Then he girded himself and began to serve them at the table and meet their needs.
This was quite contrary to local custom, but a few months later we would find our Lord literally doing this in the upper room during the Last Supper with his disciples: "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that he had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded." (John 13:3-5.) It's a beautiful picture, isn't it? The Creator of the universe is going to wash the feet of all the faithful servants throughout the ages. It's going to be awesome!
This is as we have said an astounding statement. It tells us that when we have lived and served so faithfully that his return rewards us with his service. This shows us just how highly Jesus honors service, how much he desires our service and that it is only service that is honored. Are our lives and our church so ready that He would find it of this quality that he serves us?
Then Jesus told them to be careful, for we don't know when the Lord is coming. It may be the second watch (between 9:00 p.m. and midnight) or the third watch (midnight to 3:00 am). It really doesn't matter, for we are men and women who are serving Jesus Christ in such a way that no matter whether he comes today or tomorrow, we always have an awareness that he is present. We know his word is true, and since he said, "I'm coming again," we know he is. Be ready! Don't keep looking at your watches, and don't arrange your life as if he won't come one day but he may come some other day. The servants (bondslaves) within the household that our Lord was speaking of were so faithful and so alert that it didn't bother them
that they didn’t know at exactly what hour he would return.
Jesus gave an illustration to help with this idea. As contrary to nature as it would have been for a thief to announce to the house master of a rich household when he was going to break in (in the Greek, dig a hole through the wall of the house) and steal all that was of value in that home, so it is contrary to the behavior of the master to announce when he's going to return. It's his house, and he is free to show up any time he wants. He doesn't have to give anybody a warning. He's in charge, and he has a plan that he wants his faithful servants to be part of. So he's saying, "Just keep on doing what you've been called to do until the moment I arrive."
And in the same way it's contrary to the plans of our Lord to announce to the world when he is going to come back to this earth as the risen Lord and Judge. Our Lord warned, "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." The next time he comes for his own servants, he will come as a thief in the night and gather his faithful to himself before his awesome visible coming to judge the world. Keep alert!
What makes this so urgent is that it is so final. The second Coming of Jesus is our wonderful hope but it is also a terminal event. There are no more second chances for anything or anyone. It is good that so many enjoy reading the "Left Behind" series by Tim Lahaye. Yet are you and are we concerned enough to be ready to meet Him and to know we won’t be left behind?
Because there is so much that is public about our lives many of you have expressed your concern about our friend from Ft. Smith who had been fighting cancer. Her name was Mary and Mary died this past Wednesday. While her death was expected it came for her family very suddenly. Her husband told me on the phone shortly after she died that her conversation the last 24 hours was not completely clear. Yet he was amazed to hear her say somewhat gladly, " Well, I guess I better get ready to go!" Then a few hours
later she was gone. She was ready!
Are you prepared for Jesus' second coming? Keep alert; he really is coming, and...
Peter said, "Lord, are you addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?" Jesus replied, "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?" Our Lord didn't answer Peter's question at first, but rather opened up the whole issue of what it means to be a faithful manager and the rewards that follow, and what it means to be an unfaithful manager and the punishment that follows. Let's look at each for a moment.
First, the faithful manager: The chief steward in any given household was not only responsible to take care of the property and keep alert against the possibility of thieves, but he was also to care for and feed the other household slaves. Jesus' teaching here was a reminder as well to the disciples who were called to build the church of Jesus Christ after his resurrection. He had told Peter on an earlier occasion that he was going away, but before he went away he was giving him a task. He would build the church upon the fact which Peter had already confessed, that he was the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:19.) This teaching was in fact a reminder of the Great Commission our risen Lord gave his disciples (Matthew 28:18-20.). And the apostle Paul would gather the elders of the church of Ephesus together and remind them of their spiritual responsibilities until the Lord returned (Acts 20:27-28.).
"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions." A good and faithful servant has a heart commitment to his master to live and work as if the master were always present. (And he is always present!) So once the master returns, the servant has only to continue in the task that his master assigned him and live a life that brings honor to his master's name.
This reminds me that just as our church has demonstrated faithful management of His resources in the past so today that isn’t going to change. You have every reason to expect that God’s resources that you share with us are managed carefully. The evidence that this is true are the ever increasing opportunities that stand open to us. Those include a growing ministerial leadership team and expanding opportunities for reaching people of all kinds, needs and situations. We have a growing opportunity to see more people saved, more people in Bible study, more people in worship, more people with needs to be met, and more ways to be involved in missions. Yet, to do all of that takes people who believe in being faithful managers of God’s money, time, life, commitment and heart! The catch is the more we use the resources the more opportunity for more growth!
Now let's look at the unfaithful servant. "But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk...." Your actions betray your heart in time, for a faithful servant never lives as if his master were away, for in his heart and mind his master is always present. So he lives as if his master were physically present. The answer, therefore, to Peter's question, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?" was, "Peter, I'm addressing this parable to anyone who says they are truly my followers, for in due time one's actions will betray his heart. The actions of a faithful servant will show in the way he is preparing for the master's return. The actions of an unfaithful servant will become clear in time in the way he is not prepared for the master's return. And if you think you can cover up and make people think you're a faithful servant when your heart is not committed to the Master, I want you to know that in time your
actions will give you away. You will produce who you are out of your heart."
When the master returns, should he find any unfaithful servants, he will bring them to immediate judgment. Jesus gave three cases. One received outright rejection, another received a type of disciplinary judgment and a third also received a disciplinary judgment but less severe. All three servants in each of the above cases picture men and women whose actions betrayed their hearts, and they were never true servants of their Master. The bottom line is that all will be punished and placed outside the household with unbelievers, which is a symbol of hell. This is serious! The consequences are life and death, eternal blessing or eternal judgment. At the moment that Jesus comes back, the offer of salvation ends and the servants are judged. Their unfaithfulness showed that they really had no foundation of faith at all.
Finally, Jesus gave them two eternal spiritual principles. First, he said, "And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required..." Meaning those who have great opportunities are accountable for them. The second eternal spiritual principle Jesus gave was, "...and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Again when you are faithful you are given more responsibilities.
Paul would write to the Corinthians in years to come, "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." (1 Corinthians 4:1-2.) Peter would write to the Asian Christians: "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10.) Paul said just before he was to be beheaded on the Appian Way under the cruel sword of Nero, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and
not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
Here is the question that each of us must answer, "Does your giving show the degree of your preparation for Jesus' second coming?" Once we accept him as our Lord, he places us into his household and gives us spiritual gifts and areas of responsibility to spread the good news of our redemption through our Lord Jesus. In the midst of our ministries we are called to remain faithful to our Lord by being dressed in readiness and keeping our lamps lit with the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that men and women all around us will be drawn out a world of darkness into the kingdom of light. We are also called to keep alert in the midst of all this ministry, knowing that the invisible but always present Lord will return, and then he will bring blessing to those servants who are faithful and judgment to those servants who are unfaithful. Make
a commitment to give because you are ready!
Sunday, November 21, 1999
Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Jonesboro, Arkansas
btippit@fbcjonesboro.org