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Continuing our studies of Luke 12, this week are considering verses 35-48. Please read them every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 12:41-44 (NIV)
‘Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.’
Before Oasis Community Church was formed in 2015, I remember Allen Richards preaching on a verse in Daniel chapter 11. ‘The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits’. The main thrust of the message was based on the three words, ‘Know, Be and Do’.
Knowing God comes first, followed by ‘being’ and then lastly comes the doing. Very often we concentrate on the activities to be done more than on developing the character. I’ve grown up attending many different churches and almost all of them have a full programme of events and activities throughout the week. There’s always something that we can DO.
At Oasis, we have the same kind of programme of events but I feel that we are spending the better part of the time preparing our congregation to know their God and to be the people that He’s calling them to be. I think we correctly stress that the doing comes last.
When I was a child, my piano teacher would not allow me to play the piano until I’d first learned something about the piano and how it worked. She spent a long time teaching me the various components and was preparing me to BE a pianist long before I was given the privilege of touching the keys. Playing the piano became an extension of who I was and not necessarily something that I was doing.
In our verses today, Jesus brings a further parable after being asked a question by Peter. The first thing to note is that Jesus doesn’t seem to answer the question at all! I’m sure Peter would have liked a simple yes or no. However, Jesus brings additional teaching around the subject of His return.
I think that the primary lesson here is that Jesus is actually looking for a faithful people who understand “the importance of doing.’ Don’t forget that the context to this parable is a call to readiness. If I said ‘On your marks’, I’m sure that you would envisage someone actually moving to the start of the race track in readiness for a race. ‘Get set’ would immediately bring a picture of an athlete crouched ready to spring into action. Finally, ‘Go’ is the definitive call to sprint. However, at each stage there is a suitable ‘doing’ action. The race couldn’t begin without any action of preparation.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard people say that their faith is a private matter and not open to scrutiny or discussion. What they believe and how they choose to manifest that belief is a personal issue. In regard to this particular scripture, someone once said ‘This isn’t about what a man should do to be saved, it’s about “what should a saved man do?”’ I don’t believe that Jesus wants to return to a church that is inactive but fervent in their belief. I think He wants to present to His Father a church that is full of faith and demonstrating that faith in the good works that He’s called it to complete.
Let us not neglect those works or abdicate our duties to the Lord. Acts 10:38 says that Jesus “went about doing good”. As the day of His return draws closer, may we be like Christ and endeavour to do all that He’s calling us to do.
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