Be Dressed Ready for Service

Luke 12:35-48

Key Verse 35

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,

1. Read verses 35-37. What did Jesus tell his disciples to do? (35, 36) What does it mean by keeping your lamps burning? How is ‘being ready for service’ related to Jesus’ 2nd coming? How did Jesus promise to His faithful servants? (37)

2. Read verses 38-40. Who will be recognized as a good servant by their master? (38) Why should we always be ready? (39, 40) How can we always be ready?

3.Read verses 41-46. What did Peter ask? (41) Who is the faithful and wise manager? (42) How will that servant be rewarded? (43, 44) What did the other servant think and do? (45) What will happen to that servant? (46)

4. Read verses 47-48. What will happen to the servant who does not get ready and does not do what the master wants? (47) What will happen to the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment? (48a) What will happen to the one who has been given more? (48)

Be Dressed Ready for Service

Luke 12:35-48

Key Verse 35

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,”

Introduction

Throughout chap. 12, the underlying theme may be the kingdom of God. There is a great deal of emphasis on Heaven and hell. Verses 4-5 reads, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” When we learn about the “Rich Fool” we are encouraged to be rich toward God. Verse 30 reads, “But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well.” Also verses 32 reads, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Verses 33-34 reads,

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In today’s passage, heaven is again compared to sitting at the Master’s table. It’s also compared to being put in charge of the master’s possessions. Meanwhile, hell is compared to being cut to pieces, beaten, and thrown into prison. The focus of today’s passage is that Jesus will come suddenly, bringing with him both judgment and the kingdom of God. So in this passage Jesus commanded his disciples to get ready for his second coming. From this we can learn what our role is while we live here on earth. We can also learn what kind of life we should live and the consequences, depending of what kind of life we choose.

1. Read verses 35-37. What did Jesus tell his disciples to do? (35, 36) What does it mean to ‘keep your lamps burning’? How is ‘being ready for service’ related to Jesus’ 2nd coming? What did Jesus promise to His faithful servants? (37)

1-1, Read verses 35-37.

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

1-2, What did Jesus tell his disciples to do? (35, 36)

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

• In the Bible, Jesus clearly tells us that there will be an end to time. Just as there was a beginning, there will be an end.

• This will happen when Christ returns in glory as King and Judge. All of human history is moving toward this one universal event.

• When Christ comes, he rewards or punishes each and every person without missing one, both the living and the dead.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reads,

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

• We are all destined to meet him for judgment.

• “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning”

• Jesus is our Master. We are his servants.

• Servants are those who live to serve the Master and his will.

• We are servants who are waiting for our master’s coming but still doing the work that the Master assigned to each of us.

• Servants were supposed to be ready to welcome their master by opening the door at once when the Master comes back.

• Jesus told his disciples to be ready for His second coming.

• Jesus’ command was given not just to his twelve disciples but also to all believers who wait for his coming.

• In short, being ready to welcome the Master is our job as his servants.

1-3, What does it mean to ‘keep your lamps burning’?

• The time of our Master’s return is uncertain. He could come back even after midnight.

• ‘Keep your lamps burning’ means to be ready to welcome the master even at night. It also means that the disciples should be alert at night which is a difficult time for his servants to be alert and ready.

• The disciples should be ready to welcome Jesus any time.

1-4, How is ‘being ready for service’ related to Jesus’ 2nd coming?

• Our Master is away from us and will return again.

• His servants are waiting for their Master’ glorious appearing.

• Jesus is coming back as the bridegroom to be united with his bride, his people, and to take them into the eternal kingdom of God.

• He will reward his servants according to whether they were faithful on that day.

1-5, What did Jesus promise to His faithful servants? (37)

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. “he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”

• Being ready for service’ means to be alert and spiritually awake and serve God’s will, so that we may be found as faithful servants when he comes back.

• The master will serve the faithful servant and let them eat at the table.

• Usually masters don’t serve their servants even though the servants serve them with hard work. But our master Jesus is different. He is willing to serve his servants. He had already served his disciples by washing their feet. (John 13)

• The Lord Jesus will honor the faithful servants when he comes back and let them enjoy the heavenly banquet.

• It is the greatest honor that a mere man can ever receive.

• In this way, Jesus honors his ready servants. Jesus appreciates them, provides for them, and shares his reign with them.

• When we are faithful for few decades before Jesus, we are privileged to recline at the table in Heaven and enjoy a sweet relationship with Him for good!

2 Timothy 2:2 reads,

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 reads,

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

• We must live before God, not before men.

• We must pursue God’s recognition, not men’s.

2. Read verses 38-40. Who will be recognized as a good servant by their master? (38) Why should we always be ready? (39, 40) How can we always be ready?

2-1, Read verses 38-40.

38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

2-2, Who will be recognized as a good servant by their master? (38)

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

• Those servants whose master finds them ready even if he comes in the middle of the night or at daybreak. Such servants will be recognized.

• The old NIV shows that ‘in the middle of the night or toward daybreak’ are the second and third watch of night. It means that they waited until 3 AM.

• The master could come in the middle of the night or toward daybreak which is the most difficult time for people to be awakened and alert. It is the time when most of people sleep.

• A typical Hebrew day and night hours are as follows:

• The middle of the night or day break might be the time of spiritual darkness in which people have difficulty being spiritually alert and awakened.

• Our generation can be compared to midnight or daybreak.

• But still there will be servants who are ready to welcome the master even in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. They are good and faithful servants.

2-3, Why should we always be ready? (39, 40)

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

• We should always be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when we don’t expect him.”

• We don’t know when a thief will come.

• It is awkward to think of Jesus as a thief. But Jesus said plainly that he comes like a thief.

Revelation 3:3 reads,

“Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

Revelation 16:15 reads,

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

• To those who suddenly lose everything at Jesus’ coming, Jesus will seem to appear to them like a thief. Jesus’ coming will bring them sudden and unexpected loss.

• The rich fool is one example. Such people enter eternity with only their record of sins to be judged.

• We might think that he would not come today or tomorrow or during our lifetime in this world.

• We think that Jesus’ second coming as something that will happen in the far future. But Jesus could come even today, tomorrow, or anytime.

• Being ready all the time is the best way to be prepared if he were to come even today.

• We should live life with the attitude that our Master Jesus could come within the next hour.

• When we have this sense of urgency and readiness, we can live as faithful servants of God and prepare for his coming properly.

2-4. How can we be ready always?

• Readiness must come from our daily life with Jesus. It is not something we can do suddenly at the last moment for it is beyond our control.

• Many have speculated about the time of Jesus’ coming. They think that if they know precisely when he is coming, they can take life easy until the last moment, then repent and welcome him like the thief on the cross who repented at the last minute.

• But this is not practical. Being faithful is more practical.

• “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Mark 13:32-36 reads,

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

• We should be spiritually alert all the time through God’s words and prayer.

• We should live as if Jesus will come back today.

• We should live as faithful servants of God who serve God’s will and our assigned duties faithfully.

1 John 3:3 says,

“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”

• When we have Jesus’ hope in our hearts we grow in his holy image. We can be ready for his coming no matter how dark the world becomes.

3. Read verses 41-46. What did Peter ask? (41) Who is the faithful and wise manager? (42) How will that servant be rewarded? (43, 44) What did the other servant think and do? (45) What will happen to that servant? (46)

3-1, Read verses 41-46.

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”42 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? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 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.

3-2, What did Peter ask? (41)

“Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

• He was an outspoken man. Others could get benefitted only because Peter boldly asked Jesus.

• He wondered who the servants were. He wondered if the servants referred to only the twelve disciples or everyone who listened to his word.

• Jesus’ answer for his questions was direct. Jesus taught that when he comes again there will be two kinds of servants.

• He also taught about the reward or punishment of each. Here we can learn how to carry out our assigned mission as we wait for Jesus to come.

• Jesus had in mind that his disciple would be the managers who would take care of the servants.

• They were also the Master’s servants but they would serve a manager’s role as well, by his grace.

3-3. Who is the faithful and wise manager? (42)

Who is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper times?

• The faithful and wise manager is the one whom the master puts in charge of his servants. They provide the servants with food at the proper times.

• The servants are all believers who are willing to serve the Lord Jesus.

• The managers are those who take care of the servants, especially by feeding them with the word of God so that the servants may do good work for the Lord.

• In this verse, Peter came to know who Jesus is based on his confession. (9:20)

• Thus he is now a manager for Jesus. What is his role as a manager?

• The managers may be ‘ministers or stewards’ in Jesus’ house.

• The managers should be faithful and wise. They have to serve their duty faithfully and wisely.

• Their first priority is to feed the servants with the words of God and they should be faithful and successful in serving their duty.

• Jesus implied that the twelve disciples would be the managers who would take care of and feed the servants who were the flock of God and his people.

• A faithful person(manager) is one who is trustworthy. He is loyal to his master at any cost. He carries out his assigned tasks without fail no matter what.

• This servant is also wise. He sees things from the master’s point of view. He knows how to work effectively and to make the most of every opportunity.

3-4, How will that servant be rewarded? (43, 44)

It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

• He will put him in charge of all of his possessions.

• If the manager is doing good job to feed the servants, there will be great reward from the master.

• The reward is that the master will put him charge of all his possessions. The good manager will be promoted to be in charge of all the master's possessions.

• It could mean that the Master will make the good servant ruler over all that he has.

• It is a great blessing is to take care of the Lord's possessions

• If we carry out our duties as managers, we will be put in charge of God's possessions in the kingdom of God.

Matthews 19:28 reads,

“Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”

• Taking care of God's possessions will not be burden but will be great joy and honor for us.

3-5, What did the other servant think and do? (45)

But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

• The other wicked and foolish servants thought that the master would take a long time to come back.

• He didn’t prepare to welcome the master.

• Instead of feeding servants and taking care of them, he beat the other servants. He hurt them.

• He drinks and gets drunk. He became lazy and abandoned his duty. He indulged in a pleasure seeking lifestyle.

3-6, What will happen to that servant? (46)

46 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.

• The master will come on a day when he does not expect him.

• He will cut him to pieces and assign him place with the unbelievers. He will be punished severely. He will be put in hell where the unbelievers dwell.

• He had the great privilege to work as a manager but he abused and neglected the privilege he was given.

• If the managers neglect their duty, their punishment is severe.

• Death and judgement will be severe for all wicked people, but especially to wicked managers, or ministers.

• It’s a great warning for the servants who are in a manager's position.

4. Read verses 47-48. What will happen to the servant who does not get ready and does not do what the master wants? (47) What will happen to the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment? (48a) What will happen to the one who has been given more? (48)

4-1, Read verses 47-48.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 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

4-2, What will happen to the servant who does not get ready and does not do what the master wants? (47)

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.”

• The servant will be beaten with many blows.

• Each of us is his servant and will stand before the master individually and receive reward according to what we have done.

• If we know what God wants us to do and we don't do it, it’s a great sin before God because it is willful disobedience against God and against the knowledge we’ve received.

• Knowing God's will and having the knowledge of salvation is a great privilege but there is responsibility for this privilege.

• We have to check if we are doing what God wants us to do.

4-3, What will happen to the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment? (48a)

But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.

• If someone does wrong thing without knowledge, he will be beaten less because he did it not knowing what he is doing. He does not do it for he doesn’t know what God wants and what is right or wrong clearly.

• But making an excuse is not a good excuse though for God gave us his words to be enlightened.

• God’s way of dealing with men is not democratic but based on his absolute sovereign rule.

• He is our King and we are His subjects. So he has authority to demand.

4-4, What will happen to the one who has been given more? (48b)

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

• From the one who has been entrusted with much, more will be asked.

• If we receive blessing from God we should be responsible for it.

• Those who have more knowledge and capacity have more responsibility and their account will be judged accordingly.

• So whatever we receive from God, instead of being proud of it or abusing it, we have to do our best to serve God and others with what we have.

• To the degree that Jesus entrusts his servants with privilege, he holds them accountable to make a good return.

• We have all been entrusted with something. And we are accountable to Jesus to show a profit.

• Some have been entrusted with one Bible student. They must do their best to prepare Bible study, pray for that person, and give them the right spiritual food at the proper time.

• Some have been entrusted with God-given families. making an atmosphere where they must raise their children in the knowledge of God.

• As a community we have a prayer topic to make North America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

1 Timothy 6:18-20a reads,

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.”

Conclusion

We are servants and managers who are waiting for our Master, Jesus and His return. We should be ready to welcome him any time, even at midnight. We can get ready by repenting. It’s not merely based on a business relationship between master and servant or a hired manager. Rather it’s based on love and a trust relationship thanks to our Lord Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Also the good news is that Jesus has not yet come. He may come anytime from now, but he has not come yet, so there is still time to repent. He also put each of us in charge of a certain task. So being ready is not a matter of knowing times and dates; it comes from devotion and loyalty to Christ in an ongoing relationship. Being ready is also an expression of our love for Jesus and our deep desire to meet him and live eternally with him. May God help us be good servants who are ready. May we do what God wants faithfully so that we can be put in charge of God’s possessions, especially after the Summer Bible Conference.

One word: Be Ready!

Who then is the faithful and wise manager?

Luke 12:35-48

Key Verse 12:42

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?” 

From the last Sunday message we learned to persevere in our spiritual race, following Jesus’ example by faith. Now from today we go back to Luke’s gospel again. If you look at Luke chapter 12, today’s passage is continuation of Jesus’ teaching for his disciples started in verse 22. From verse 22 to right up to before today’s passage Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about their life or body or what to eat or what to wear. He encouraged them to sell their possessions and give to the poor. So, five weeks ago, the messenger of the passage, sh. William, sold his Friday evening time to serve young disciples’ meeting. I also made a decision to sell my 8 pm to lead evening prayer meetings.

Now in today’s passage Jesus wants his disciples to be ready for his second coming by becoming faithful and wise manager. Jesus wants them not only to sell their possession and give physical food to the poor but also give spiritual food to the poor.

To have someone who can give proper food allowance at the proper time is so essential to men and animals. I have one cat in my house. Usually Maria feeds him. But when Maria went to Korea I fed him twice. I could feed him because I could notice a very special tone in his voice when he cried out. Living together with the cat for 7or 8 years including two years inside of our house I could notice the difference in his voice when he is desperate. The first and second day when Maria was away I heard his desperate voice. I could distinctively recognize his different tone of voice and fed him twice. To me, he was saying something like this, “Master John Kwon. Have mercy on me. I don’t know what happened. But Maria did not feed me. I am so hungry. Please have mercy on me and feed me.” Come to think of it, to me to give the food to the cat was just one choir. But to the cat it is the matter of life and death. What if I am merciless and do not give food to the cat? He could starve and eventually lose his life. Indeed to have someone who can give proper amount of food at the proper time is so essential for men and animals.

So in today’s passage Jesus wants his disciples to be the faithful and wise manager who can give food allowance at the proper time to other servants. Let us see how Jesus taught them.

My message has two parts. Part I. You also must be ready (v.35-40) Part II. From the one who has been entrusted much, much more will be asked (v.41-48)

Part I. You also must be ready (v.35-40)

Look at verses 35-38.

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.”

Jesus called his disciples ‘servants’ and himself as ‘master’. Does he do so in order to honor him? No, he did so so that he wants to teach the importance of serving. He will still serve for his disciples when he comes again even though he is their master.

He described his disciples as servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet. So they were watching and ready to open the door immediately whenever their master comes and knocks the door. What would be their reward? The master would serve them in return. It shows that Jesus was very fair. Luke 6:38b reads, “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” They served Jesus as servants. Now Jesus will serve them as their servant when he comes back. This is a glorious blessing and reward for those who serve Jesus. The only trouble is that the servants do not know when their master would return. He could return in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. One thing is for sure. He will come when they do not expect him. So the only way for them to welcome him is to keep watching and be dressed ready for service all the time.

The main character of our spiritual life is to keep watching and being ready for service. There is no time of being lazy. If we want to take life easy and become lazy, we will fail to welcome Jesus when he comes.

Look at verses 39 and 40.

³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

In these verses Jesus directly told his disciples that he was talking about his second coming and his people should be ready for his coming all the time because he will come at an hour when they do not expect him. He made it clear that the only way to welcome him is keep watching and being ready for him.

Jesus described the life of his disciples as the life of waiting in hope of his return.

Now in verse 39 Jesus talks about the owner of the house and the thief. The owner wants to guard his house against the thief. But he cannot do so because he does not know when the thief is coming. Figuratively speaking, Jesus can be compared to the thief, and the owner of the house represents all people. The owner of the house represents people who think that they are the owner of their houses. To them, Jesus’ coming will be like a thief.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 reads, “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

For the man who is not ready for Jesus, his coming will be like a thief in the night. To him Jesus will be like a thief because his house will be broken into. He thought he was the owner of his house. But when Jesus comes he will know he was only a tenant and Jesus is the real owner.

Those who think their houses, their lives, talents, money, gifts and blessings, are theirs will be greatly surprised at Jesus’ coming.

God does not want his people to know the time of Jesus’ coming because it helps them to be faithful. If they know the hour of Jesus’ coming, they may be lazy and abusive. If they know the time of Jesus’ coming there is no way to distinguish the faithful servants from unfaithful ones. So God in his wisdom, sealed the date and hour of Jesus’ coming for the benefit of his people who will be able to demonstrate they are faithful servants. There are wicked servants, and their true color will be shown when Jesus comes.

Jesus’ conclusion for his disciples is “You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Jesus’ teaching applies to everyone although he gave today’s teaching to his disciples. When Jesus said, “You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” it means his disciples were not exception. Although they were privileged and honored as twelve disciples of Jesus, they also should be ready like the other believers. No one knows when Jesus will come again. Therefore, everyone including Jesus’ twelve disciples must be ready.

The promise of Jesus’ second coming is one of God’s major promises to his people. Hebrews 11:13 reads, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”

Hebrews 11:39-40 reads, “³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

So all believers lived by faith so far, and none of them had received what had been promised, and one of major promises is Jesus’ second coming. Only after full number of God’s people has been saved together with all of us, all believers ahead of us and behind us would experience Jesus’ second coming. He will come as the master. But as today’s passage reveals, to his disciples who faithfully waited for him he will serve as their servant as he did when he first came to earth.

Part II. From the one who has been entrusted much, much more will be asked (v.41-48)

Look at verses 41-44.

“Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?” ⁴² 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? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 

When Peter heard, “you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him, his pride was hurt. He thought that he should be exceptions. Jesus’ teaching should apply to others rather than 12 disciples. So although today’s passage was delivered to Jesus disciples, he asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?” Jesus did not answer directly. The truth is it applies to everyone including Peter and Jesus’ other twelve disciples. But in order to answer Peter’s question, Jesus revealed the privilege of his disciples, and the privilege belonged to only his disciples rather than everyone.

What kind of privilege do Jesus’ disciples have? Their privilege is to be entrusted by their master to give food allowance at the proper time to all the other servants of their master.

When Jesus said, “who then is the faithful and wise manager?” Jesus was revealing he was seeking such faithful and wise manager. At the same time Jesus revealed his expectation and hope that Peter would become the faithful and wise manager. Jesus revealed his great reward to such faithful and wise manager that he will put him in charge of all his possessions, meaning all of his people.

The manager has a great privilege because he represents his master while his master is away. He has great privilege because he has access to the storeroom of his master, and use food there according to his master’s will. Other servants of his master would not have such privilege to have access to the master’s storehouse and authority to give food allowance at the proper time. So indeed to give them their food allowance at the proper time is his privilege and at the same time his responsibility. Privilege and responsibility come together. By depending on how we see we can see it as ‘privilege’ or ‘responsibility’ which means ‘blessing’ or ‘burden’.

To feed Jesus’ sheep is our privilege but at the same time it is our responsibility. We may feel more of ‘responsibility’ and think it as ‘burden’. But the truth is it is also ‘privilege’. To feed Jesus’ sheep is privilege because it means we are so privileged to know Jesus personally. We are so privileged to know the word of God personally. We are so privileged that we have healthy body to feed Jesus’ sheep. We are privileged to have time and strength to feed Jesus’ sheep. So we should regard our responsibility to feed Jesus’ sheep as our great privilege. Indeed to be the faithful and wise manager is our responsibility but also privilege. But what happens when we see it only as ‘responsibility’? We will lose our privilege.

Now look at verses 45-46.

⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ 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.

The man understood to be faithful and wise manager only as responsibility and burden. So he was looking for a way to lay down his burden of responsibility. Then he found one good excuse which was his assumption. He said to himself, “‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’. He assumed his master would not return soon. Then he began to abuse his privilege. He began to beat other servants rather than providing their food allowance at the proper time. He began to eat and drink and get drunk. He did not want to work. He wanted to forget about all of his responsibilities. So he got drunk. How long could he do so? Not long. His master would come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He would cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

It turned out that he was like unbeliever although he was called as Jesus’ servant. His action and behavior shows he was an unbeliever. So the master assigned him a place with the unbelievers.

Our action shows us what we believe. Even if we call ourselves Jesus’ servants or disciples, our action will show if we are true disciples or servants of Jesus. It will show if we are practical unbelievers.

Look at verses 47-48.

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ 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.

In his judgment the master will be very fair. If someone knows the master’s will and does not do he will be beaten with many blows. But if someone does things deserving punishment without knowing his master’s will he will be punished less. The truth is 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. This shows that privilege is given first such as ‘everyone who has been given much’ and ‘the one who has been entrusted with much.” Responsibility comes later in the future. God called us to be bible teachers and we have been given much. We have personal knowledge of God and his words. God also sends us bible students. He gives us the Holy Spirit and much more.

In my case much has been given to me. So much more will be asked. All my responsibility comes as the result of much entrusted to me. So I should see it as privilege rather than responsibility or burden.

To have someone who can give us proper amount of spiritual food at the proper time is a great blessing. Even to provide proper amount of physical food to ourselves requires faithfulness.

Few days ago, Martha and I had a big fat lunch at buffet restaurant. My stomach was full. But to my great surprise I began to eat peanuts as soon as we arrived home. While I was eating I was wondering “why do I eat again when I am really full?” I could not understand. I only felt that I was craving to eat more when I was extremely full. So even though I felt it was strange I kept on eating. It was not only I myself who was surprised but also Martha was. She told me, “Our body is designed to stop eating when we are full. But if we keep on eating it means our body is out of order.” At that moment I realized that I am out of order in eating.

Then I believe next morning God’s insight came to me. God revealed to me that all my diet to loose weight such as not eating when I am not hungry or eating one meal a day or two meals a day or skip dinner or any irregular eating is all against my wish of losing weight. To eat irregular way is to the way to break my own good habit of eating. The best way to loose weight and the best diet is to eat at the proper time, 3 times a day, with proper amount, and balanced meal. So I decided to use a tray to control the amount of food I eat.

One famous Japanese doctor, whose name is Shinya Hiromi, has been working in New York and Japan. He wrote a book for healthy living. He is a doctor of stomach and intestines. He is the one who pioneered the use of a colonoscope to remove polyps from the colon without abdominal incisions. According to him he drinks water one hour before meals, and then half an hour before meal he eats fruits and then he eats meals. He recommended his diet to all of his patients and none of them died out of cancer. He claimed that he saw 300,000 people’s stomach and intestines in his 45 years of practice. When I try to follow his diet it requires a faithfulness.

Now if to provide proper amount of physical food for ourselves at the proper time requires such faithfulness how much more faithfulness will we need to provide proper amount of spiritual food at the proper time to others? So Jesus described such a person as ‘the faithful and wise manager.’

One word: who then is the faithful and wise manager?