Luke 12:35-48 (ESV)
"Stay dressed for
action and keep your lamps burning, [36]
and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding
feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and
knocks. [37] Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress
himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve
them. [38] If he comes in the second
watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! [39] But know this, that if the master of the
house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his
house to be broken into. [40] You also
must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
[41] Peter said,
"Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" [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. [45]
But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and
begins to beat the male and female servants, 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 does not know,
and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. [47] And that servant who knew his master's
will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe
beating. [48] But the one who did not
know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone
to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they
entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Questions for Reflection
1.
What is it like to wait for someone without
knowing when he or she is coming?2. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do? (12:35)
3. According to Jesus, what are the two traits of the one who is ready? (12:35)
4. How long should the servants have been willing to wait? (12:38)
5. When do important things often happen? (12:39-40)
6. How should we act while waiting for Jesus to return?
7. What do we learn of God’s fairness here?
8. How much have we, individually and collectively, been given and entrusted with?
9. How can we use wisely what God gives each of us?
