April 03 2025

Wednesday April 03

Watching, Waiting, and Working

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."

Welcome to today’s Pastor’s Chat! In Luke 12, Jesus warns us to beware of hypocrisy, covetousness, worry, and fear—traps that keep us from pleasing God in every part of life. These lead to anxiety, but Jesus says, “Do not worry, do not be anxious, do not fear.” His remedy? Believe He’s coming soon. He tells a story of a master returning from a wedding, urging us in verse 40, “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” We often get so caught up in temporary things that doesn’t last, that we forget this truth.

Lest we get the idea that watching and waiting are all that He requires, Jesus added this parable to encourage us to be working when He comes. The Apostles had a special responsibility to feed God's household, His church; but each of us has some work to do in this world, assigned to us by the Lord. Our responsibility is to be faithful when He comes. We may not appear successful in our own eyes, or in the eyes of others; but that is not important. The thing God wants is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Once a believer starts to think his Master is not coming back, his life begins to deteriorate. Our relationship with others depends on our relationship to the Lord; so if we stop looking for Him, we will stop loving His people. The motive for Christian life and service must be a desire to please the Lord and be found faithful at His return.

In this passage Peter asks, “Lord, is this parable just for us or for everyone?” Jesus responds with another story: a faithful steward tends the household well and is blessed when the master returns, gaining authority over all he has. But if a servant thinks, “My master’s delayed,” and starts mistreating others, indulging in reckless living—eating, drinking, getting drunk—the master will come unexpectedly, judge him, and cast him with unbelievers. Those who know the master’s will and don’t prepare face many stripes; those who don’t know but still err, fewer. “To whom much is given, much is required.” We’ve been given heaven’s resources, how are we using them?

I do not think that Luke 12:46 teaches that unfaithful believers lose their salvation, because our going to heaven depends on faith in Jesus Christ and not good works (Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:11-13). The phrase "cut him in sunder" means "cut him off, separate him"; and "unbelievers" can also be translated "unfaithful." Our Lord will separate the faithful believers from the unfaithful; He will reward the faithful, but the unfaithful servants will lose their rewards (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

This ties to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul describes Christ’s return: the trumpet sounds, the dead rise, and we’re changed in a twinkling of an eye, receiving immortal bodies like Jesus. He says, “Therefore, be unmovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, knowing it’s not in vain.” Jesus could come any moment, friends. We must watch, wait, and work. The Bible’s final prayer is, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” If He came today, would you be ready? Would He find you working in His fields, living for His glory?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, free us from hypocrisy and worry. Help us steward Your gifts faithfully, staying unshakable in Your work. May we be ready when You return. Come quickly, Lord. Amen.

Challenge: Reflect today: Are you living carelessly or carefully for Christ? Study these verses, pray, and let’s be found working for our Master. God bless you—have a wonderful day!

God bless!