PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 24:45-51
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge.” (Matthew 24:45)
In this parable, Jesus uses extreme language make his point.
Those who cruelly beat their fellow servants will themselves be ‘cut to pieces’.
Those who carouse with partyers will end up judged like the hypocrites.
Those who cause misery will inherit misery; this is the meaning of ‘hell’ (final judgment).
Hell has been used by religious leaders to ‘beat’ other servants into compliance.
Jesus uses hell to warn such religious hypocrites of what will happen to them.
They are ‘put in charge’ to care for the other servants, not to make life hard for them.
Jesus is warning unloving, cruel and abusive ‘servants’ that they will regret it.
To love our fellow servants and to eat and drink with strugglers is our calling.
“It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (24:46)
We have been entrusted with the task of caring for others, especially those who struggle.
As a religious leader, I take Jesus’s warning to those ‘put in charge’ very seriously.
To make sure I do not harm or hold others down, while helping myself to what pleases me.
If I want to inherit joy and not weeping, I need to bring joy and not weeping to others.
PRAYER
Lord, you are challenging me to be faithful and wise, to care for the people you have assigned to my care. I want to help, not hurt others, with my words and actions.
“whom the master has put in charge” We have to account for what we do here on earth. We are privileged to be gifted and resourced – the earth has been entrusted to us and we have responsibilities. I have been blessed with family, friends and vocation – work and responsibilities to carry out. I want to serve well as a way of saying thanks to the Master – to Jesus for what He did for me. I owe Him my life!
This is my Father’s world. He has given a charge to not only but all His own. Serve one another. Do good. I was created to be a servant, doing the will of my Father. Do this is what my Master says. Go this and live – live and do this. Love God. Love mankind. All this is shown by what I do and say – words and deeds. I need to be an instrument of His peace for the joy of the Lord God is my strength and song.
Make me a servant
Humble and meek
Lord let me lift up
Those who are weak
And may the prayer
Of my heart always be
Make me a servant
Make me a servant
Make me a servant today