The benefit of faithful service

"And the Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.'Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions." Luke 12: 42-44 NASB

After a week's break for a portion of the Alfred allegory (which will be continued at a later time), we return to Luke 12. 

Tomorrow, we'll look at Jesus' words for the servants who aren't faithful, but for today, let's focus on the benefits of faithfulness. Jesus promised blessings and authority for His diligent servants. 

In the Alfred stories, we saw the faithful servant rewarded when his master found him doing what he was supposed to do. These verses tell us that the servant who is found faithful will be put in charge of all the master's possessions. 

Faithfulness, then, is the key that unlocks greater responsibility in the Kingdom of God. 

With greater responsibility, we have a greater opportunity for doing good, but that's not the best part of "being in charge of the master's possessions".  To be in charge of someone's possessions requires that we know that person's will concerning their possessions. To know their will, we must know them. 

When we receive a divine appointment to greater responsibility, it brings us closer to our Lord.

The appointment to a position of authority, or responsibility, then, is an invitation to draw closer to our Lord by continuing to serve. 

For disciples, the longer we serve our Lord, the closer we draw to Him. 

It's the way it should be, but it's easy to become complacent in our relationship with Christ, as in earthly relationships, and allow our diligence to wane. We can easily become more focused on the work we're doing for God than our relationship with God. 

One of my favorite hymns says, "The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows." That's the experience of the faithful server.  

There's no mandatory retirement age in following Christ. The longer we serve God, the more faithful we serve, the greater the blessing. There's no age limit, no limit on years of service, so don't give up. Don't waver in faith or in following. 

Paul, after years of faithful service to His Lord, wrote these words. "Brethren,  I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14 NASB)

Keep pressing on. Keep drawing closer. 

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Our Father, forgive our faithlessness. Draw us closer to You and give us hearts of faithfulness and diligence. Help us to know You more and to press on. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#disciple, #wepresson # JesusChrist