This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Luke 12:41-48 TPT)
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “does this apply only to the twelve of us, or is it for everyone else as well?”
42 The Lord replied, “A master will delegate authority in his house to a trustworthy and thoughtful manager who understands his master’s desires. And the household manager will serve others what they need at exactly the right time. 43-44 And whenever his master returns, he will find that his servant has served him well. I promise you, the master will reward him generously and he will be placed as an overseer of everything he owns.
45 “But what if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master delays his coming, and who knows when he will return?’ Because of the delay, the servant elevates himself and mistreats those in his master’s household. Instead of caring for the ones he was appointed to serve, he abuses the other servants, both men and women. He throws drunken parties for his friends and gives himself over to every pleasure. 46 Let me tell you what will happen to him. His master will suddenly return at a time that shocks him, and he will remove the abusive, selfish servant from his position of trust. The master will punish him and assign him a portion with the unbelievers.
47 “Every servant who knows what pleases his master yet does not make himself ready and refuses to put his master’s will to action will receive many punishing blows. 48 Every servant who does not know his master’s will and unwittingly does what is wrong will receive a less severe punishment. For those who have received a greater revelation from their master are required a greater obedience. And those who have been entrusted with great responsibility will be held more responsible to their master.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Importance of Trustworthy Stewardship.
— Trustworthy stewardship is a critical principle in the Kingdom of God. God needs to know that you are not only capable of managing what He gives you but also that you have the heart to do it with a spirit that honors Him.
— We learned in earlier parables that our faithfulness in small matters prepares us for greater responsibilities. God will only give us what we are capable of managing.
— God entrusts us with resources, people, and tasks, expecting us to manage them wisely.
— Being a faithful steward means aligning our actions with God’s values and principles. Why? He is in charge, and we are not. When we are working for God, we represent Him!
— The quality of our stewardship reflects our understanding of God’s heart and desires.
— We are accountable for how we use the authority and resources given to us.
— Faithful stewardship leads to divine rewards and greater kingdom responsibilities.
2. The Dangers of Complacency and Neglect.
— Complacency in our spiritual duties can lead to a gradual decline in our commitment. Said another way, if you get complacent, you will start to let things “slip,” overlooking what you used to catch and correct.
— Neglecting our responsibilities can cause harm to those we are meant to serve.
— Mismanagement of our roles reflects a lack of reverence for God’s trust in us.
— Complacency often stems from a mistaken belief that there are no immediate consequences. When the manager in the parable thought his master was not coming home anytime soon, he felt like he could do whatever he wanted without consequences. This is a dangerous mindset, especially within the context of what Jesus was teaching. He was teaching His disciples and us to be ready for His return.
— Some who don’t think Jesus, their Master, is coming back anytime soon mistakenly take that to mean that they can do whatever they want, even though they know it is outside of the will of God.
— Our spiritual alertness and readiness are essential in maintaining effective stewardship.
— God calls us to be focused, active, and diligent, not passive and neglectful. If you are neglectful long enough, you will lose your purpose in life.
3. The Consequences of Abuse of Power.
— The manager in the parable, thinking he could do whatever he wanted, started abusing the people he was given charge over. This is a dangerous place to be, especially because God loves those you are abusing.
— Misuse of power and authority can lead to the exploitation and harm of others.
— Abusive behavior contradicts the servant-leader model demonstrated by Jesus.
— God holds us accountable for how we treat others, especially those under our care.
— Abuse of power often comes from a distorted view of leadership and authority. Some think leadership means: “These people work for me, and they have to do whatever I say.” Leadership in God’s eyes is more like: “I am here to serve them and develop them into the men/women God called them to be.” God calls us to be servant leaders.
— The definition of leadership I use is: “Leadership is a serving relationship that facilitates human development.”
— Leaders are called to empower and uplift, not dominate and control.
— Recognizing the sacredness of our leadership roles is crucial to avoiding abuse of power.
4. The Significance of Being Ready for Christ’s Return.
— Readiness for Christ’s return is a central theme of the Christian faith, and it is the context of this parable.
— Our daily lives should be lived in anticipation of Jesus’ return.
— Spiritual readiness involves constant engagement with our faith and responsibilities.
— Readiness is demonstrated through consistent obedience and vigilance.
— Christ’s return will be unexpected, highlighting the need for continual preparedness.
— Our preparedness is a testimony of our faith and expectation of His promises.
— The readiness of our hearts reflects our understanding of the imminence of Christ’s return.
5. The Reward of Faithfulness and Obedience.
— God rewards faithfulness and obedience in His servants.
— Obedience to God’s will is a key marker of a true disciple of Christ.
— Faithfulness in small matters prepares us for greater kingdom tasks. If we are faithful over little, God will give us charge over much.
— Our obedience is a response to God’s love and grace in our lives.
— The rewards of faithfulness extend beyond this life into eternity.
— God’s rewards are not always tangible but are deeply fulfilling and purposeful.
— Living in obedience and faithfulness brings us closer to God’s heart.
6. The Responsibility That Comes With Greater Knowledge (To Whom Much Is Given, Much Shall Be Required).
— Greater understanding of God’s Word brings greater responsibility.
— We are accountable for applying the knowledge we have received. So, if we KNOW better, we are expected to DO better.
— Responsibility in the kingdom is proportional to our spiritual maturity. The more God knows that we know, the more He holds us accountable to.
— Ignorance is not an excuse, but knowledge increases our accountability.
— God expects us to grow and mature in our understanding of His will, and as we do, He expects our learning to turn into living.
— When I first started walking with God, there were many moments when I learned something about God or about the Bible, and I thought, “Man, I did not know that. I did not realize that by doing “X,” I am doing something that is against God’s will. Not that I know, God is going to expect me to change.” I brought that up to one of my mentors back then, and he said, “Pina, it’s almost better NOT to come to Bible study than to come knowing that you are NOT going to do what you learn, because you will be held accountable to what you know.”
— The more we know about God’s purposes, the more we are called to align with them.
I will close with the words of James. He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment.” (James 3:1).
In God:
— Our influence carries weight, meaning that we will be held accountable to use it in a way that pleases God.
— Positions of influence come with a standard of accountability and integrity.
— We will all be held accountable for HOW we use the influence and management responsibilities God has given us.
— To whom much is given, of him, much shall be required!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I acknowledge the weight of influence that comes with teaching Your Word and commit to handling this responsibility with utmost reverence and care.
I understand the standard of accountability You set for teachers, and I humbly accept this charge, seeking Your wisdom and guidance in all my teachings.
I embrace my role as a servant in Your kingdom, using my position to glorify You and edify the church, never seeking personal glory.
Holy Spirit, develop in me spiritual maturity that reflects in my teachings, helping me to rightly divide Your truth with clarity and wisdom.
I commit to a life of integrity and authenticity, reflecting the teachings of Christ in my actions and words, being an example to those I teach.
I pray for a heart that is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, as I interact and lead Your people (James 1:19).
I will be faithful over everything You bless me to manage, honoring You in all ways!
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
