Seeds for 01/19/2024 - Matthew 24:45-51
Scripture: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 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 hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Observation: I was a barely in time at Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard but I managed it. One company completed their service and transferred their duties to the next. At Arlington National Cemetery I was early, ready and waiting as the minutes passed until hearing the clip-clap steps of the sentry coming to relieve his compatriot and assume watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Those images come to mind reading this passage, with a critical exception. In those cases, responsibility is passed from one to the next with respect for the importance of continuity with the faithfulness of the previous stewards of the position.
In this text, the time has come to pass the torch but for a different reason. Far from keeping a good thing going, it’s time to clean house of the old administration—the Pharisees and teachers—and bring in the new—the disciples of Jesus.
This text, at the close of chapter 24, contrasts the “wise and faithful servant” with a wicked servant. The wise and faithful servant tends to the master’s house. He recognizes that the house and its people are to be cared for out of duty and stewardship. Not so with the wicked servant. He assumes he’s got the run of the place and therefore treats the house and its people harshly and shamefully.
The themes of chapter 24 include the just judgment of God, the seeming chaos of the world, not knowing the timing of the Lord’s return, and the imperative of watchfulness. Together, they make the case for vigilant faithfulness. I think of this as a watchfulness over one’s soul, not only watching over the times in which one lives.
When we are watching over our own soul, we are taking care to live faithfully before God. In this case, we’re ready for whatever may come. We need not be overly concerned about deciphering events in the world because we are at the ready regardless (only properly concerned).
Vigilant faithfulness, however, is not a solo enterprise. We need help watching over our soul, and we need to help others. John Wesley called it “watching over one another in love” and he organized his leaders and people to that end. The wise and faithful servant has watched over his soul and his calling well so that when his Lord returns, it will be a day of rejoicing.
Application:
How is it with your soul… honestly? What soul work do you need to do to be a “wise and faithful servant”?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, lead me to practice “watching over one another in love,” both by giving and receiving help. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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