April 04 2025

Friday April 04

Stewards of the Master’s Household – A Call to Faithfulness

Luke 12:41-48

41 Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

Today, we’re diving deep into Luke chapter 12, a passage where Jesus is ministering to multitudes, confronting the Pharisees, and preparing His disciples—and us—for His second coming. Our chat today opens a window into this rich chapter, and we’re zeroing in on verses 41-48, where Peter’s question prompts a powerful parable about stewardship, accountability, and readiness. Jesus knows He’s headed to the cross, as we’ll see later in this chapter, but here, He’s laying a foundation for how we should live in light of His return. Especially what it means to be faithful stewards of God’s resources, knowing we’ll one day stand before Him.

Remember Luke 12 begins with Jesus warning against hypocrisy—don’t be a pretender. He cautions against covetousness—don’t chase the things of this world, because they only bring pain, worry, and fear. And He urges us not to be careless. Why? Because He’s coming back. “I will go away, but I will come again,” He promises. This isn’t just a distant hope; it’s a call to action. In verse 36, He paints a picture of servants waiting for their master’s return from a wedding, and in verse 40, He declares, “Therefore be you also ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” This urgency frames our passage today. Jesus wants us waiting, watching, and working when He returns.

Peter has been listening to Jesus’ teachings, and in verse 41, he asks, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” It’s a fair question. Is this just for the inner circle—the disciples—or for the crowds too? Jesus doesn’t give a simple yes or no. Instead, He responds with a parable that broadens the scope and deepens the responsibility. His answer shows this isn’t limited to the Twelve; it’s for every follower, every person who claims His name. That’s you and me, friends. We’re all in this story.

In this parable Jesus describes two kinds of servants. One who is faithful and can be trusted and one who is careless and will be punished. Jesus clearly points this out: “The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers” (v. 46)

Jesus doesn’t stop there. He then speaks of a day of accountability. One day we will all give an account of stewardship at the Judgment Seat. As followers of Christ, we’re stewards of God’s resources. Jesus isn’t just warning us to stay busy; He’s preparing us for accountability. This isn’t about earning salvation—Jesus took care of our sins on the cross, and by faith, we’re secure in Him. But how we live matters. Some think, “I’m saved, I’m going to heaven—nothing else counts.” But that’s not what the Bible teaches. Jesus and Paul both point to a moment of reckoning for believers: the judgment seat of Christ.

In Romans 14:7-10, Paul writes, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord… For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” This isn’t the final judgment for unbelievers; it’s an evaluation of our service as believers. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul likens our lives to a building project. He laid the foundation—Christ—and we build on it. “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is” (v. 13). Good works endure; worthless ones burn up. We’re saved, yes, but we can still “suffer loss” in terms of rewards (v. 15).

Then, in 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul again reminds us “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Everything we do will be judged at that judgment seat of Christ—every idle word, we’ll give an account for.” This isn’t about fearmongering; it’s about purpose. Knowing this “terror of the Lord” (v. 11), Paul persuades others to live rightly. It’s a sobering motivator.

In light of this we should be waiting, watching, and working. Jesus could come at any moment—His return is unpredictable, like a master slipping in unannounced. We can’t afford to be careless, assuming there’s time to get our act together later. The faithful steward doesn’t slack off; he’s diligent, using everything the master’s given for His glory. The careless servant, though, gets distracted by the world—hypocrisy, covetousness, indulgence—and faces the consequences.

Think about your life. Are you waiting—anticipating Christ’s return with hope? Are you watching—staying alert to His will, not dulled by worldly pursuits? Are you working—pouring your energy into His kingdom, not your own agenda? How will the Lord find us when He comes back? Will we be a faithful and working and laboring servant? It’s a personal challenge. We’re not just clocking in; we’re stewards of God’s grace, time, talents, and resources.

God bless!