By Pastor Richard Avenes
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 24:45-51
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
How is your faith? How is your service to the Lord? How are you as a servant to Him?
There is a story about students in a classroom who are taking an exam. The professor specifically told them not to cheat so the students tried to study for their exam. During the course of the test, their professor left the room. In fear of failure, the students, one by one, stood up and did their own thing, copying from one another so that they can pass the test. They even had a look-out and were hoping that the professor would not come back soon or would not come back at all. But come to think of it, the professor will return, at a time when they did not expect Him to.
The professor is going to return. Whether you like it or not. At a time when you least expect him. And he will know what you were doing. What you have been up to. What is in your heart. Just like God. You can fool me. You can fool everybody around you. But you cannot fool Him. God knows what is happening to you and what you are doing. You cannot hide anything from Him. That is why He is encouraging you to be a faithful servant. Be faithful even when no one can see.
Faithfulness is doing what is right when no one is looking and when everyone is compromising.
Are you faithful or wicked? Faithfulness is not only in the beginning. You have to be faithful until the end. You are not easily tempted and are not swayed by problems around you. If you are faithful, you are wise. You are loyal. You are consistent. You are committed. You are always ready. That is faithfulness. Because you are looking at the big picture that one day the Lord will return. That no matter how many struggles and problems come your way, you know that God’s promises are true. You know that He will return. Nobody knows when so you need to be ready, prepared, consistent and loyal. So that when He does return, He will find you faithful.
The Bible says you are blessed. The Lord will bless you more that anybody else can. That blessing is eternal. That blessing exceeds more than your understanding. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” All you have to do is to simply be faithful with everything God gave you. It is so fulfilling to be faithful to the Lord. There are so many blessings and benefits and favors available to us.
On the other hand, the wicked servant will find ways to delay what God asks because he thinks God will not return anytime soon. He is not faithful with what God left with and for him on earth. The punishment for the wicked is horrible. But the Bible says the master will return at that time when the wicked servant is busy maltreating his neighbors; at the time when he least expects him. Do not think that that time will not come. The wicked is not ready. Lazy. Abusive. He cannot be trusted. The Christian must arise at this time and show that they are good servants of God. Do not be wicked. DO not abuse the blessings given by the Lord. Be good and faithful servants. Because only those that can be trusted with little will be trusted with much more. God has prepared more blessings for the faithful.
The reward of being faithful - After all the Goliaths that you are facing right now, you will have a reward if you are faithful. In Romans 8:18, Paul said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” When God rewards, it will be more than what you expect. These are the things that the world cannot give. He is so powerful and He is the God of many surprises. The context of this verse does not only pertain tot he pastors and to those who were left with flocks. Even if you are a new Christian, God already entrusted you with something. The testimony that you are holding within you, the changed life that you were gifted with are the things that you can share with other people. In due season, as stated in the Bible, the master feeds his servants; the food pertaining to the word of God.God gave you food, share it to others. Share it to the people who do not know Him yet. That is the best thing you can share with other - eternal life. They will thank you not only in this life but also until eternity. Matthew 28:19-20 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God wants you to preach his world to all nations and to the world. As Christians, you are disciples. And the Lord has commissioned you to share His word to everyone who is not in Him yet. Until there are still souls who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, your mission is not yet over. Let us prove to Jesus that His death on the cross for you and me was all worth it.
The result of being wicked - You will never go unpunished. The Lord is giving you a lot of second chances. Do not remain in sin; remain in the presence of the Lord. The Lord will not trust you anymore. Do not let the opportunity escape you. The Lord entrusted so many things to you. Everything you have is from Him. It is borrowed. Be faithful. Whether you like it or not, you will grow old. Whether you like it or not, you will die. And whether you like it or not, you face the Lord someday. When yo face Him, the Lord will either bless you or punish you. It is very important at this time to check your heart. Be humble and ask forgiveness from the Lord. Repent!
Have you been faithful? The Lord will judge you. There will be gnashing of teeth, according to the Bible. Instead of being grateful, you abuse the grace and mercy and the blessings of God. Be grateful. Be faithful. Do what God wants you to do. Even if nobody can see. There are no blessings for the lazy. You are created in God’s image. Do not be lazy. Be faithful. Obey what the Lord wants you to do. And He will bless you.
God wants you to be faithful. All of you. So that the enemy cannot penetrate any part of it anymore. Serve the Lord with all of your heart. If God is with you, who can be against you?The enemy will try to destroy you, but only God can prosper. There is more in Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:4 says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” God is reminding you that when He is in you, you can do everything in Him. He has good plans for you. Be faithful.
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