BLESSED SERVANTS
LUKE 12:35-48
Introduction:
Faithfulness is a quality among Christians that is becoming more rare every day. In this passage the Lord takes up the subject and shows how God’s blessings are linked to our obedience. The Apostle Paul tells us in Acts 20:35 “to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” We need to have that attitude in His service and be men and women “that wait for their lord.” (v. 36).
I. MEN WHO WAIT FOR THEIR LORD.
A. These men watch for the hour of the coming of their Lord, v. 37, “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”
B. These are blessed of the Lord, vs. 37-38.
1. Those that He finds watching.
2. They are ready (involved), Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
3. These are those ready to give an answer, 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
II. MEN WHO ARE FAITHFUL AND WISE STEWARDS, v. 42.
A. Stewards of God’s household, 1 Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
1. God’s stewards are gifted to carry out His will, Romans 12:6-7, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”
2. They have the tongue of the learned, Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”
B. These shall be made rulers over the Lord’s household, v. 42.
1. These are the servants that are busy in His work, v. 43, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
2. These are responsible servants to whom God will entrust leadership positions, v. 44, “Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
III. “BUT AND IF… MY LORD DELAYETH…
A. These are those who have decided that serving the Lord is not their first priority, v. 45.
1. These have decided not to heed God’s warning, Revelation 16:15, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
2. These are become worldly in their attitude and actions, 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
3. Christ’s patience may be misinterpreted as delay, 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
B. The Lord of the house returns in a day in which the servant is not looking for him, v. 46.
1. To some professing Christians the Lord will say, Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
2. To the slothful believer there will be only shame at not having been ready for the Lord, vs. 47-48.
CONCLUSION
“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:37). That was the Lord’s admonition to all of us “Watch.” There is so much reward in serving the Lord. There is joy when you see someone come to trust Christ as Saviour. There is blessing in having a part in the training of young people in the things of God.
There is real joy in knowing that you have done God’s will as a faithful and wise steward of God and that He is coming soon. Watch, therefore.