Luke 12:45-47 ~ "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My Master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the Master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And the servant who knew his Master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
NKJV carries this label of this servant - evil. Another may be found faithful, but certainly some will be named evil. And yet, both are called servant. A servant resides in the home of his Master. This faithful and evil one both named servant, both reside in the house of their Master.
This telling of this tale that Master Savior told is the telling of the truth. A truth that is wholly as startling as it is terrifying.
A servant dwells in the Master's home and yet he is named evil. I do believe there are those who maintain a residence in the Master's house and will be called evil on that day of His arrival.
The parable is clear ~ this servant knew of whom he served and yet was not ready. This evil servant said in his heart, "My Master doth tarry, I will certainly make merry." And he ate. And he drank. And he abused and used those about him.
Sound familiar? We have certainly just read an accurate depiction of the western church.
We are named as servant. We claim the name, we wear the label. We are Christians and we have countless titles on our shelves to show our devotion to Christ (or love of online shopping). We have many crosses on chains to demonstrate the burden we bear (or our affinity for jewelry). The fish is on the bumper and we check Republican and then call that devotion. We know the correct verbiage and we claim our Christian heritage and yet, we look startling similar to the world that surrounds.
And servant resides in the Master's house. Certainly, we attend services and conferences, and we even lead the Wednesday night Bible study. We love our Christian concerts and can't live without the potlucks!
We reside in the Master's dwelling; yet, a surrendered heart, we are surely unwilling.
We reap the rewards,
the dollars and donuts we hoard,
but truly serve Him as Lord?
He our Anchor, our lives to Him moored?
we say, that price - we can not afford!
And yet, Scripture tells that of the servant who tarries in the temple yet never surrenders soul ~
. . . and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers . . .
Jesus was not even slightly subtle ~ He will cut you in half and cast you out.
This wicked servant knew the Master, in fact, He knew much of the Master and yet his eternity was sealed with the heathen, with the lost soul.
It is imperative we see the similarity of this wicked servant and the western church. We too, abide in the Master's house, we enjoy His splendor, eat of His abundance, drink of His wine and abuse those He put in our charge. We know the drill, we know when to stand and when to kneel, the appropriate time to slip hand to heaven and when to smile the smile. We rest hand on brother so and so's shoulder and offer the gentle word of encouragement. We know which service serves the best coffee and which band sets the best mood for our "worship experience" (whatever that means!) And yet, in our hearts we strive after self ~ more money, more things, more power, more notoriety, more luxury, more comfort, more clothes, more me, more food, more me, more drink, more me, more leveling of another to elevate self. More me, me, me.
Western church be wary ~ the evil servant residing in the Master's house serves as terrible reminder of the surrendered soul He requires and is surely our reasonable service.
Be mindful ~ if you enjoy a "worship experience" for an hour or so on Sunday and then name yourself servant; you have completely misunderstood ~ worship is not an "experience" it is a way of life. And the truly surrendered servant does not make merry with food and drink, or with the leveling of another. The true servant has no desire to make much of self but to make exceedingly much about the Master. His life is worship, constantly surrendered to service.
He does not tarry in his Master's dwelling to plunder,
but sets about acts of loving labor,
not merely to secure His favor,
nor for His blessings to procure,
selfish reasons, he does not do it for,
but simply because his Master he doth adore.
NKJV carries this label of this servant - evil. Another may be found faithful, but certainly some will be named evil. And yet, both are called servant. A servant resides in the home of his Master. This faithful and evil one both named servant, both reside in the house of their Master.
This telling of this tale that Master Savior told is the telling of the truth. A truth that is wholly as startling as it is terrifying.
A servant dwells in the Master's home and yet he is named evil. I do believe there are those who maintain a residence in the Master's house and will be called evil on that day of His arrival.
The parable is clear ~ this servant knew of whom he served and yet was not ready. This evil servant said in his heart, "My Master doth tarry, I will certainly make merry." And he ate. And he drank. And he abused and used those about him.
Sound familiar? We have certainly just read an accurate depiction of the western church.
We are named as servant. We claim the name, we wear the label. We are Christians and we have countless titles on our shelves to show our devotion to Christ (or love of online shopping). We have many crosses on chains to demonstrate the burden we bear (or our affinity for jewelry). The fish is on the bumper and we check Republican and then call that devotion. We know the correct verbiage and we claim our Christian heritage and yet, we look startling similar to the world that surrounds.
And servant resides in the Master's house. Certainly, we attend services and conferences, and we even lead the Wednesday night Bible study. We love our Christian concerts and can't live without the potlucks!
We reside in the Master's dwelling; yet, a surrendered heart, we are surely unwilling.
We reap the rewards,
the dollars and donuts we hoard,
but truly serve Him as Lord?
He our Anchor, our lives to Him moored?
we say, that price - we can not afford!
And yet, Scripture tells that of the servant who tarries in the temple yet never surrenders soul ~
. . . and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers . . .
Jesus was not even slightly subtle ~ He will cut you in half and cast you out.
This wicked servant knew the Master, in fact, He knew much of the Master and yet his eternity was sealed with the heathen, with the lost soul.
It is imperative we see the similarity of this wicked servant and the western church. We too, abide in the Master's house, we enjoy His splendor, eat of His abundance, drink of His wine and abuse those He put in our charge. We know the drill, we know when to stand and when to kneel, the appropriate time to slip hand to heaven and when to smile the smile. We rest hand on brother so and so's shoulder and offer the gentle word of encouragement. We know which service serves the best coffee and which band sets the best mood for our "worship experience" (whatever that means!) And yet, in our hearts we strive after self ~ more money, more things, more power, more notoriety, more luxury, more comfort, more clothes, more me, more food, more me, more drink, more me, more leveling of another to elevate self. More me, me, me.
Western church be wary ~ the evil servant residing in the Master's house serves as terrible reminder of the surrendered soul He requires and is surely our reasonable service.
Be mindful ~ if you enjoy a "worship experience" for an hour or so on Sunday and then name yourself servant; you have completely misunderstood ~ worship is not an "experience" it is a way of life. And the truly surrendered servant does not make merry with food and drink, or with the leveling of another. The true servant has no desire to make much of self but to make exceedingly much about the Master. His life is worship, constantly surrendered to service.
He does not tarry in his Master's dwelling to plunder,
but sets about acts of loving labor,
not merely to secure His favor,
nor for His blessings to procure,
selfish reasons, he does not do it for,
but simply because his Master he doth adore.
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