Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
744 words, 4 minutes read time

Reward For Being Alert and Serving

Scripture: Matthew 24:43-44; Luke 12:41-44

In the previous lesson we looked at the importance of servants being ready for the masters’ return. In this lesson we will continue this theme.

^{Mt 24:43} But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

These verses present a somewhat different illustration of being ready. In the previous lesson the focus was on servants being ready for the master to return, whereas here it is the master that is the focus in being ready to protect his home from a thief breaking in. In each case the emphasis is on being ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

^{Lk 12:41} Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

As Jesus was instruction his disciples to be ready, Peter interrupts Jesus and asks if what he is telling them is just for them or for all to know.

^{Lk 12:42} And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Jesus seems to ignore the question from Peter and continues to teach. He then speaks about the “faithful and wise manager” who faithfully and fairly cares for those whom he is responsible, giving to them their portion of food at the proper time. This faithful manager is rewarded for his faithful service when the master returns. This is a metaphorical picture of the rewards that will be given to faithful believers for their service.

Concerning these rewards consider the following from 1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15 ESV: ¹⁰ “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³ each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

Through the work Jesus did on the cross, a foundation was laid for us as believers to build upon. We can choose to build with gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, hay, and straw, but the day will come when each one’s work will become manifest by being tested with fire. The work that survives will be rewarded, but that which is burned up will suffer loss. That loss will not be so great as to include one’s salvation.

Paul speaks of this testing in his second letter to the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV), we read: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 18 [We] are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:18 – 19 ESV).

Conclusion

The servant that acts as a faithful and wise manager will be rewarded by the master on his return, but in the next lesson we will see what happens to the servant who takes advantage of the master being away by mistreating those he is to serve.