Opening Prayer
Father God, It is true that we live in a broken world. We know that there is a day coming when each of us must give an account of our life’s work, and service. We pray that this study tonight will impart to us that which you would have us learn from the words of Jesus. That we must persevere and remain watchful and vigilant at all times. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight that is contrary to your will, and that each of us will leave this place with a better understanding of our place in your Kingdom. We pray this in Jesus name, AMEN
This Parable is really more of a warning about the end times, It is found right in the middle of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, a discourse on the end times, the last of Jesus’ five discourses. Jesus Starts this discourse in answer to a question from his disciples.
Matthew 24:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
Then there is a lengthy discourse on the conditions leading up to, and during the end times. And this parable, about faithful and unfaithful servants comes right in the middle of his discourse on the end times.
There are six points to be taken from this parable. (1) Remain watchful; (2) Be prepared; (3) Pay faithful attention to your Christian duty; (4) Anticipate God’s reward for faithfulness; (5) Guard against the opposite of faithfulness; (6) The consequences for failure to be faithful.
Don't take positions of service lightly. If you call Jesus Lord, treat Him that way. Don't be presumptuous about your salvation status. If your behavior is inconsistent with that expected from one born of God, what example are you then setting for all those who are depending on you for your faithful service?
2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test
Mat 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Mat 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Mat 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Mat 24:45 "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?
Mat 24:46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Mat 24:47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Mat 24:48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,'
Mat 24:49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
Mat 24:50 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.
Mat 24:51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Remain watchful and be prepared Pg.2
Mat 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
This parable is given as a warning to those of this world who would have it their own way. That is just not how it is going to be. It is meant to alert all of humanity that there is a better more perfect way. Although there will be those in our world who pay no attention to Jesus’ words they will nevertheless be the watch words at the end times. Jesus is in complete control of God’s world. It is his time and his alone. No one will know, and it will not be a pleasant experience for some. Therefore keep watch. If we but knew the hour of his coming we could make preparations for his arrival. It is However Jesus’ time and place. The last minute preparation will not be possible. It will be surprising, sudden, and final.
Make us ever mindful of those persons who possessed great wealth, but discover one day that a thief had carried it all off. What does this say to us about the kingdom of heaven? The treasure God offers is of far greater value than that of any earthly treasure and more secure! But it's possible to lose this treasure if we do not guard what has been entrusted to us by God. What is this treasure?
Q.1“Therefore keep watch” What does this phrase mean to a Disciple of Christ?
Q.2 “Have it your way” What does this phrase mean to us today?
Q.3 Can you name one prerequisite when applying for a job?
Q.4 How would one prepare the best resume for the coming of Christ?
The Faithful Servant
Mat 24:45 "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? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Here is a short description of one who has earned the respect and admiration of his master. One who does not seek self gratification and acclaim. By the conduct of a faithful and wise servant Jesus is alluding to a faithful Christian, a servant of God, or a teacher of religion. In this case he was speaking directly to his disciple. We too are Christ’s disciples, put here for a purpose. Comparable to a trusted and faithful servant who is always ready to serve his master. One who has no thought to self glorification or who does not seeks the praise of others, one who is selfless and more than willing
Q.1 What qualities are needed to become a loyal and trusted member of society?
Q.2 What qualities did the Pharisees have, that caused Jesus to criticize them so?
Q.3 What qualities are needed by Christians in order to properly serve God ?
Q.4 What is meant by the phrase “give them their food at the proper time”?
The faithful, Rewarded Pg.3
Mat 24:47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
What possessions are being referenced in this statement? Simply, the image of the favor of his master, drawn from the custom of appointing a competent or favorite servant to be head steward, as was Joseph in the house of Potiphar. Given more responsibility over more important matters, making trust a fulcrum that insures all will be well with that servant forever. In God’s economy however, the privilege is extended to all. Together his people will be set over all that He has. And as we have learned elsewhere, in that position of responsibility each will delight to serve and be the servant to all, making perfect the use of God' time in God's service. For God turns all our values upside down. That one has a promotion shall not be like earthly promotion, wherein the favor of one excludes that of another, but rather like the diffusion of love, in which, the more each has, the more there is for all. Like a mother hen serves her chicks, and looks to their overall good. Such is God's will for our lives in service to him.
Q.1 What condition is needed for one to receive such a promotion in our world today?
Q.2 Compare the answer to question # 1 to what it will take in the Heavenly realm.
Q.3 Can you draw a parallel from any of your life experiences?
Q.4 If one is promoted to CEO of a company what is expected of that one? And what does that
one expect?
The slothful Servant Mat 24:48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' Mat 24:49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
Jesus is now in control of time, and events. Time is his to give and to take. So he leaves this world in the care of his servants. Yet he knows that at some time, there will be those that fall away and become unresponsive to the serving of God’s nourishment to his followers at the proper time. Those servants become preoccupied with their own time, their own effort, and they selfishly covet their own results, as self serving and self gratifying. Their time is theirs, and self is the object of their service. Their responsibility is only to themselves.
This is a vivid statement of the levels to which mankind will sink when and if they begin to pursue their own interests and seek to follow their own self gratifying expectations. They will become unresponsive to God’s Words and Gods Will for their lives. They assume full responsibility for their own demise, yet will they deny it to become a care that they acknowledge to be their downfall.
Q.1 How does the world prepare us for the responsibility we have in this world?
Q.2 What are the parameters for assuming this responsibility?
Q.3 How do these parameters change for Christian service?
Q.4 How does this person differ from the Dale Carnegie personality?
Q.5 And when comparing one to a committed Christian, How does he rate?
Q.6 How do these three personalities differ?
The Surprised Servant Pg.4
Mat 24:50 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.
When the hour of responsibility is come upon them, those self seeking unfeeling disloyal servants will be caught completely off guard. Having cared not for the time nor the place of their reckoning to God, they will be off doing self-serving interests, and will be cut off in the midst of their action, and at a very inconvenient time. All time is God’s time. All justice is God’s and all Salvation is God’s, as fulfilled by Jesus through the cross. Just as Jesus was rejected, scourged, and crucified, For those who reject his authority The day of reckoning is coming It will be sudden, sure, and complete.
Q.1 Do you remember what rebellion of authority feels like?
Q.2 What act of rebellion can you recall from biblical accounts?
Q.3 Can you recall misguided Justice in such a situation?
The Awesome Consequence
Mat 24:51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
A sad and pitiful vision to imagine, all those to whom the call has been put, and who have in their own self interest, refused to respond, or who have fallen away and discarded their inheritance. Weeping and gnashing of teeth, realizing the error of their ways but doing so only after having been caught and then realizing that their reward is eternal torment. Then they will eternally be in anguish over what could have been.
Q.1 What do you feel causes people to rebel against authority?
Q.2 What reward do they seek who rebel against God?
Q.3 And can you recall from previous studies, an example of who that one might be?
Q.4 Is there any regret in realizing the consequence of one’s rebellious actions?
Closing Prayer
Father God, as we leave this place, go with us and guide us on our way. Let there never be a time when in your service we shirk our Christian duty. Let there never be a moment of regret because we failed to respond to your call. Be with our friends and acquaintances who are in need of your comfort and healing touch.____________ Lead us to care for those of your flock that need our help and comfort. May we always be ready willing and able to respond to our Christian duty. Dismiss us now with your blessing. We pray this in Jesus Name AMEN
Pg.5
The Parable of The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
Meditation: There is an element of surprise in the story of the master returning home unexpectedly after the marriage feast. Will he catch his servant sleeping rather than keeping watchful guard? The Lord offers us a relationship with him as his sons and daughters and the promise of eternal life as well
This parable contains a lesson in faithfulness and a warning against sloth. Why is faithfulness so important to God? For one, it's the foundation for any lasting and meaningful relationship. Faithfulness or fidelity allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity.
Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. Fortunately God gives us the grace and strength to be faithful. He also rewards faithfulness. Why is fidelity or faithfulness so difficult today? Modern society extols freedom over fidelity and doesn't want to be bound to an unknown or uncertain future. It's also inconvenient and a burden to the pursuit of one's own interests.
We badly need to recover this virtue, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of the next generation as well. If we want to pass on the faith then we need to first be faithful models for our youth. Faithfulness demands consistency, a determination to stay the course, and hard work.. The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires. The temptation is often presented to us that while the Master is away we can easily put off until tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today! We should learn the Godly attributes of faithful service, and concentrate on those things that we Know will cause God great joy by sharing his love with others as we have seen it in Jesus Christ.
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