Sunday, May 21, 2017

Expecting a Bonus???

Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is yet another of Jesus' examples from the workplace. The servant, or steward, is watching over the owner's affairs while He is gone. He has been given a great position of honor and responsibility.  If He does it well, he can expect to be rewarded and entrusted with more at the owner's return. But if he takes over, begins to act like everything is his, and abuses the trust he has been given, he is living like he does not expect the owner to return, and should expect punishment when he does.
This is practical life. The example Jesus uses is not an empty one. It should be an example of how we conduct our work life today - don't expect a raise, bonus or blessing if you mishandle your responsibilities; expect to be fired and/or fined. Followers of Christ have every reason to be good stewards. 
Of course Jesus is going much deeper to the truth of the Gospel with which we have been entrusted.  What are we doing with it?  Celebrating it? Investing It? Sharing it with others? Or using it as a tool to abuse others by comparing them to ourselves.  This is not the intended use, and shows a lack of understanding of what the Gospel is all about.  Expect no bonus, only the "wages" due such behavior.  

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