STAY BUSY AND STAY READY

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

Matthew 24:42-51 (NLT) – 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

• In this parable, one of the servants chose to “stay ready,” living as if the master would return at any moment and taking care of his responsibilities.
• The other servant chose to “get ready” at some other time. He relaxed and quickly turned to sinful behavior.
• Jesus is clearly telling us to “keep watch” for His return.
• DEFINITION – Watch: to stay active, keep awake, be cautious, pay attention
• Jesus is warning us not to be complacent, but to stay ready and active as we wait upon His return.
• Choosing to stay ready, expecting the Lord to return at any moment, will keep you from falling into the lazy and sinful behavior of those who think they can get ready later.
• Staying actively alert will keep you from being passively defeated.

Matthew 24:45-47 NLT – 45 A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

• Jesus has left us with a great responsibility, to take care of others and feed them.
• He does not want us idly waiting for His return, simply gazing into heaven in the hopes of seeing Him come back down.
• While we are waiting, we are to stay busy, actively completing the assignment He has given us of making disciples and teaching them.

Matthew 28:19-20 NLT – 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…

• When Jesus does return, He will reward and promote those He finds taking care of His people and teaching them.
• We can also rest assured that He sees our work even while we await His return and He will reward all who serve Him.

Colossians 3:24 NIRV – Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have. You are slaves of the Lord Christ.

Matthew 24:48-51 NLT – 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

• The evil servant began with a faulty perspective. He thought, “My master won’t be back for awhile.” (v. 48)
• If this wicked servant knew that his master would be returning soon and had any wisdom, he likely would have behaved differently.
• He mistakenly thought that the consequences for his bad behavior were a long way off. He may have even thought he could fool the master by changing his behavior just before his return.
• As a result of this sinful mindset, He immediately began to party, get drunk, and mistreat those he had been entrusted to care for.
• The consequences of his wicked perspective and behavior were decisive and disastrous.
• God has entrusted all of us with people to care for. We will all have to give an account one day for how we behaved and treated them. If we live with that future day of accounting in mind, it will help us to do what is right today and throughout our lives.