Parable #9 …Luke 12:42-48…Faithful and Wise Servant

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Parable #9…Faithful and Wise Servant

1. What would you do if you hired a house sitter/caretaker to watch your home andchildren, left for a week-long vacation, and then returned a day early to find yourcaretaker had neglected your kids, had a big party, and trashed your home?

2. What distinguishes the faithful and wise manager? (12:42-44)

3. How did Jesus say that an irresponsible servant might behave when left incharge of the household? (12:45) Why might a person behave in this way?

4. In view of Christ’s second coming, what does this parable teach you aboutreadiness? About stewardship?Judgement? Serving others? Witnessing?

5. The parable identifies four kinds of servant:

a) One who knows what he should do, and does the right thing.

b) One who knows what he should do, but does the wrong thing.

c) One who knows what he should do, but doesn’t do anything.

d) One who does not know what he should do, and does the wrong thing

What is the fate of each of them? Which one do you identify with?

6. Do you know your “master’s will?” (12:47) Should you try to know it better orare you better off not knowing it so you will not be punished as severely? (12:48)

7. Over what has God give you stewardship (you, personally)?

What do you thinkGod wants you to do with it (be specific)?

How would God evaluate the job you’redoing?

How can you improve the job you’re doing?……“ When someone has been given much, much will be required in return (Luke 12:48)?”……“48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”… This statement of Jesus has become somewhat of an idiom in Western culture and is found, paraphrased, “With great power comes great responsibility.”……The idea of “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return” is that we are held responsible for what we have.

If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and benefit others.……In context, Jesus had just told a parable about being ready for His return. His disciple Peter asked if the parable was for just them or for everyone. Jesus replied with another parable in which He defines the“A faithful, sensible servant “ as one who gives out food and other allowances “at the proper time.”

When the master returns and finds the faithful servant managing his resources well, he “put that servant in charge of all he owns. ”(Luke 12:42–44).

We have been entrusted with certain things, and faithfulness requires that we manage those things wisely and unselfishly.…42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? …Jesus continued the parable with a contrast:

“Suppose the servant says to himself, ‘45  ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. …The unfaithful servant mismanages the master’s resources to satisfy his own greed, and Jesus warns that judgment is certain for that servant. …The Lord then summarizes the point of the parable with these words: 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”… A related parable that also deals with stewardship is the Parable of the Talents(or the Parable of the Bags of Gold) in Matthew 25:14–30. (two of our next parables)……It is easy to assume that only wealthy people have been “given much,” but, in truth, we have all been given much …1 Corinthians 4:7…7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?…We have been granted the abundant grace of God …Ephesians 1:3–10…3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[a] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.…9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 3:16–21…16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.…20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.…Romans 5:8–11…8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.…Romans 8:14–17…14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[a] of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[c]16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

WE have been given the Word of God, and thegifts of the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 4:10…“10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

John 14:16–2116 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[a] who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.[] 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”…John 16:13…13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Romans 12:6…6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.……We should also not assume that the less we know about God and His gifts, the less we’ll have to do. …As evident in Jesus’ parable, we are held responsible to know our master’s will. God has plainly shown us what He requires Micah 6:8…8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:to do what is right, to love mercy,…and to walk humbly with your God.…God gives us resources such as finances and time, talents such as culinary skills or musical ability, and spiritual gifts such as encouragement or teaching.

We should ask God for wisdom on how to use those resources and commit ourselves to expending them according to His will so that He may be glorified. …In regards to spiritual gifts, Paul said, …Romans 12:6–8“6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” This is simply responsible stewardship.…We have been given much, and God desires us to use what He has given to further His Kingdom and proclaim His glory. …It’s what we were created to do. …atthew 16:24–25,27…24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it…….27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.”…We are living sacrificesgiving the things God has given us in service to others, and in that we will actually find life.

Romans 12:1…And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[]

God, the giver of all good things James 1:17, gives us everything we need to fulfill His will. “Freely you have received; freely you should give”Matthew 10:8