The Watchful Servant!

By Pastor Doug Cox

In Luke chapter 12 we find Jesus teaching us to guard against hypocrisy, to avoid the fear of men, and to know that sometimes following Him leads to persecution. He warns us about covetousness and the perils of trusting in riches and admonishes us that God takes care of those who trust in Him and that if we will seek (first) the kingdom of God what we need shall be added to us. In Luke 12:34 Jesus tells us plainly why we need to keep our hearts set on the things of God, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

Every believer should not only make it their priority to live for Jesus but also to look for His return. That is what the next section of Luke 12 is about. Jesus tells us to “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. (Luke 12 35-36)

Instead of making life all about what we want, we must remember it is to be about what He wants. And He wants what is best for us. Our best life now happens as we live as His stewards and servants and walk by faith and not by sight. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life and the blessings that He gives us, but we must not allow the pleasures of life to take our focus off Him.

We must keep our waist girded and our lamp burning which means we can’t let our inward appetites and desires be overtaken by worldly things and pursuits. Again, Jesus said, “where your treasure is your heart will be also.” So, what lights your fire? What floats your boat? Is it worldly things and desires or the things of the Lord? Whatever it is that is what you are watching for.

Now watching for the Lord doesn’t mean we are walking around constantly looking up at the sky. No, it means we are to be thinking about the possibility of the Lord’s return every day. It means we are praying that we are living ready for that when it happens and we can also encourage others to be ready as well.

Jesus tells us. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when He comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that He will gird Himself and have them sit down to eat and will come and serve them. And if He should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:37-40)