What would you do if you knew that a thief would try to rob your home tonight? If you’re going to visit a country with malaria mosquitos, what would you do in advance? If you’re going to be someplace where pickpockets are active, what do you do? If a non-Christian looked at your life today, would he have any reason to accuse you of not believing of the imminent return of Christ? How can you have a sense of expectation about the imminent return of Christ?
First of all, specifically how does the way you are living and what you are doing with your life show that you believe that Christ might return at any time? Do you have an obligation to anyone but yourself, not in general terms, but who specifically? And what are you doing about this?
This weeks’ parable is found in Matthew 24:45 – 51.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 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. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus then began a second parable (24:45-51), illustrating in greater detail the principle that we should be ready at all times for his return. This parable adds more understanding to the nature of our task on earth, specifically in our relationships with other people. Jesus used the imagery of a servant relating to other servants.
The challenge is to be like a faithful and wise servant of God, being a steward for him in whatever he entrusts to us. The master’s household, including his possessions and other slaves, was very close to his heart. A wise servant will find obedience in his own best interest. It is only wise to do what is right with what God has given us.
It is a precious thing God entrusts to us, the stewardship of other lives as well as wealth. He wants us to live by loving others as ourselves. Anything else is neglect of responsibility and abuse of others.
The master is certain to return. Blessed is the servant who is faithful at all times and who is found obedient whenever the master returns. In fact, the master will entrust this faithful servant with all his possessions because the servant was faithful with some of his possessions.
If, on the other hand, the servant is evil, he will take his chances on whether the master will come soon or not. Assuming the master is staying away a long time, he will act selfishly and abusively toward the other servants and keep bad company.
The servant of God who tries to live licentiously for a time, planning to clean up his life before the Lord returns, will find himself in a trap. Not only is it obedient to stay the course of faithfulness, but it is a lot less work than trying to reform a corrupt life.
Because the evil servant is lulled into a sense of false security, the master will be certain to come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. The evil servant deceived himself and had no excuse when the Lord returned with judgment. To cut him to pieces means “to cut a person in two. This was a form of judgment used in ancient times. The picture is one of severe judgment. The weeping and gnashing of teeth indicates deep remorse by those who will suffer such great loss.