Servants and Masters
Opening Prayer
Holy and Mighty God, You are my Lord and I want only to be Your faithful child and servant.
Read Luke 12:35-48
[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. [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.” [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. [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. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What does Jesus urge on us about his coming (35,38)?The role of a servant is increasingly unfamiliar to us. We live in a society that emphasizes rights. The role of a servant is second-class and despised. But Jesus defines the role of disciples in exactly those terms: servants of the master. A servant does not put his own needs or desires first; instead he asks what the master needs. A servant is always thinking ahead, not about what is happening to him, but about what will affect the master in the future.This perspective sits uncomfortably with us but Jesus’ words for those who don’t live like this are very strong; they will be beaten for their failure to live this way (47). God is a fair and just master, but we need to be ready for whatever God calls us to do.Yet this relationship is not motivated by duty, but by gratitude and love. “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:7,8). We serve because he has first served us.
Apply
Reflect on what it means to you to be a faithful servant of Jesus in your situation and circumstances.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, You know all about being a servant. Please teach me what being Your servant means for me.
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