In Luke 12 Jesus teaches a story which is often referred to as The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant

Luke 12:35-47 reads “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. 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.”

“Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

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 that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”

These scriptures are teachings about “being ready”. Honestly, when I have read these verses or when I have heard them taught I’m often left feeling a sense of anxiety and dread. I don’t think I am alone in that feeling.

I ask myself, What am I doing at any moment of the day that Jesus could walk in and discover what a lazy slacker I am? If he stepped into the room and found me lying on the couch watching some mindless TV show, what would he do? Would he start whipping me? Or, as it says in verse 46, would he actually be so angry that he would pull a sword and cut me in two?

Is that what Jesus is trying to instill in us – a fear that we must be working away doing good works, for fear that he could pay us a surprise visit at any moment? Does our master and friend drive us with fear? I think not – in fact, I know not!

Scripture does say in Psalm 111 & Proverbs 9 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. But that fear is more of recognizing the power and might of the almighty as we would a parent – fear of disappointing them or shaming them. This story depicts a much different kind of fear.

Jesus tells the crowd, “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning”. The Greek word for Gird is Perizonnumi, meaning to tuck in, to fasten garments with a girdle or belt, or metaphorically to equip oneself with knowledge of the truth. We gird ourselves so that loose things don’t slow us down or get in the way of being more efficient in what we do. In 1 Kings it says that Elijah tucked his cloak into his belt so he could outrun Ahab.

We wrap ourselves up in the truth so we don’t get tripped up with the randomness of the relative nature of this world.

When Jesus speaks of Lamps burning, what is he talking about? Is it to provide light to guide the master home? No, it is to stay awake or to have the light on so you won’t stumble in the dark to answer the door when the master arrives.

Jesus is basically, saying to be ready, prepared and alert for the arrival of the master.

So, how do we be ready?

• Be Ready by . . .
  • Waiting – for what? Vs 36 – and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master
  • Watching – for what? Vs 37 – Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching
  • Doing – what? Vs 40 – Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. And more specifically in Vs 43 – Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes

When I have read through these passages before, Iv’e focussed on the question of WHAT we are to be waiting, watching and doing for?

• Waiting for what? – The Greek word for waiting is Prosdechomai. This waiting is not just like sitting in the waiting room of a Doctor’s office flipping through a magazine. The Greek word indicates something that can be much more intimate. The imagery is more of a woman waiting for the right man for a lifetime of intimacy. The waiting involves exercising patience and discipline and steadfastly holding to values, confident that the waiting will be rewarded.
• Watching for what? – The Greek word for watching is Gregoreuo. It does not indicate sitting around occasionally peeking out the window. This watching is born from the waiting. The imagery is more of the watchman who has a purpose for setting a watch. The watchman knows what they are looking for and is expecting at any moment that friend or foe will ride over the distant hill. They will sound the alarm to prepare the people for the arrival of that friend or foe. There could be dire consequences not only for you but for all those who entrusted you to keep the watch. What was the result for the people on the Titanic when that sailor entrusted to keep watch failed to see the iceberg and sound the alarm in time?
• Doing What? – The Greek word Doing is Poieo which means to make something, to produce, to celebrate. The doing is born from the watching and the waiting. What we do is based on that which we are watching and waiting for. Mostly the Greek word used in the scripture indicates that the doing is “making” or “preparing”. The Greek word Poieo is often translated in the context of preparing for the arrival of what we have been waiting and watching for. If it is an enemy then we are making fortifications, making weapons, organizing and training fighters, setting traps and planning out the fight. If waiting for a friend it is cleaning, setting tables, arranging for entertainment and celebration. The work is based upon what you are waiting and watching for.

Yet, I’ve come to realize that more than the “what” we are waiting, watching and doing for, it is the WHO that is the critical element. If we have a good idea of who we are waiting, watching and doing for then we know what the person looks like, their character, their behavior, the way they think, their manerisms, their likes and dislikes – and we can prepare accordingly.

In this day and age, the tech companies are pushing the boundaries of personal privacy by trying to gather all the information they can on every member and even every person. Why? So businesses can take that information and try to meet every want or need the individual has – to best know and serve their customer. I heard it said that it is the ‘Holy Grail’ of marketing.

The Focusing on “What” takes us back to the old covenant standard of meeting the law. Focusing on the “Who” is relational and is all about the New Covenant standard of living by the Spirit.

If we are to be waiting, watching and doing for Jesus what does that mean? Is it all about His glorious Second Coming?

• Mark 13:26 – And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

The question still remains but is now – “Are we ready and for whom are we expecting?”