Luke 12:35–48 (ESV)
You Must Be Ready
35 “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.
Jesus urges those in positions of leadership to faithfully discharge their duties. Following worldly examples,
Christian leaders sometimes see their positions more in terms of privilege than responsibility. Jesus’ example of self-sacrifice, however, underscores the shallowness of such attitudes. We are moved to emulate His way of humble service because He was
willing to endure all things for us, that we might share in His privileges.
I pray: Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the
vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.” Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1742.