Stay Dressed!

BE READY!

A FAITHFUL SERVANT IS ALWAYS READY!

Luke 12:34–36 ESV

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

In these next verses, Jesus really puts that faith and faithfulness concept into context as He asserts the urgency and immediacy with which the disciples are to live.

They don’t understand yet that Jesus will be going, but then returning later. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach them how to live while He is away.

If your treasure is in heaven then your heart will be also.

You will be looking and longing for Christ’s return, like a lost child who’s been found but is still waiting for his parents to pick him up.

It’s easy to get distracted by the pleasures of this world. It’s easy to get distracted by the evil and the pain and turmoil we will see as the end nears. If our treasure is in this world, we will be caught unaware when Jesus returns.

But if our treasure is in heaven, we won’t be attached to this world. We will be ready and waiting!

“Stay dressed” means more than ‘keep your clothes on.’

The actual command of Jesus was to keep their cloaks tucked into their belts.

Luke 12:35 KJV 1900

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

It echoes the urgency and importance of Yahweh’s commands concerning the first Passover in Egypt:

Exodus 12:11 ESV

11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

It simply means to have your belt on, ready for service.

Stay as ready and mobile as you can. Shoes on, belt on, etc. and CARRY a LIGHT and keep it lit (keep it on)!

The light will shine your path, but will light the way for others as well.

We naturally live in different levels of awareness and preparedness.

If we were going into battle, or were facing an attack, we would be on full alert and as battle ready as we’re able, knowing that confrontation is imminent and unavoidable.

If there were a crazed gunman on the loose, we would be on full alert, but seeking shelter - hoping to avoid confrontation.

In public we should have awareness of our surroundings and the people around us. In certain places this alert would be very high. In others it would be much lower.

At home for the evening we relax, take our shoes off, change into night clothes (pajamas).

If preparing to leave our homes or preparing for someone to visit we’ll prepare ourselves, wear regular clothing, etc.

When I’m preparing to go to work, I wear boots and work clothes, pack food, water, and grab my backpack etc.

Jesus warns us to be ready for His return.

One of the things God created us to BE is ready!

One thing I’ve noticed is that when we commit ourselves to helping others stay ready, we stay ready.

AMG Bible Illustrations (When He Comes)

When He Comes

A man visiting a certain elementary school informed a class that he would give a prize to the pupil whose desk he found to be the cleanest and most organized when he returned. “But when will you return?” some of them asked. “That I cannot tell,” was the answer. A little girl, who had been noted for her disorderly habits announced that she intended to win the prize. “You!” her schoolmates jeered; “why, your desk is always a mess.” “Oh! but I will clean it the first of every week.” “But what if he should come at the end of the week?” someone asked. “Then I will clean it every morning.” “But he might come at the end of the day.” For a moment the little girl was silent. “I know what I’ll do,” she said decidedly; “I’ll just keep it clean.” … The exhortation is not, “Get ye ready,” but, “Be ye ready.”

BE AWAKE!

A FAITHFUL SERVANT IS AWAKE!

Another thing God created us to BE is awake! - Meaning to be alert and watchful!

That once lost but now found child in each of us - will fight sleep - will be on the lookout for the first sign, the first hint , of our parents arrival.

Jesus gives another parable, or perhaps is still using the same one, in the next couple of verses to illustrate the rewards faithfulness.

We see this “gird about” -“belt on” word in the very next verse is rendered “dressed for service”

Luke 12:37–40 ESV

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 24:43 ESV

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mark 13:33–37 ESV

33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Please remember Jesus doesn’t literally mean to stay dressed - with a belt on - and always keep your flashlight on - and never fall asleep! How many children have heard a great sermon to stay awake and feared to go to sleep?

Jesus is trying to communicate the urgency with which we must live. We must be about the Father’s business. The moment we get distracted with our own affairs we can drift off course.

Much like the driver who grows confident, and even board with watching the road. They feel that they can safely look down or look around or even read a message or respond on their phone.

When I was 26, I felt a little drowsy in the afternoon sun and almost stopped at a gas station for a hot beverage to stay awake. I chose not to because it would mean getting both of my daughters out of their car seats and bringing them in the store as I would not leave them unattended. I only lived the next town over. I made it about 6 or 7 miles before I fell asleep, crossed the center line, hit another vehicle, and went over a snowbank. Praise God everyone was fine. That same day, just a few miles away, one of my former youth group members and her boyfriend got hit from the side as they were driving and both were killed.

We don’t know the day or the hour of His return. We don’t know our time.

But we must stay alert, living ready and looking for Christ’s return.

We must hold forth the lamps that shine the truth of His return, that others may see and follow.

The importance of the watch is not just a warm welcome for the master, but a secure house while he is away. We must keep watch, lest the thief break in or the enemy make his way in to steal kill and destroy.

When our focus is heavenly forward, we are not so susceptible to attacks.

In this parable of the thief, Christ is the ‘thief.’ He doesn’t say this to suggest that He is like a thief in any way except that His return will be unexpected. He uses this parable to emphasize the importance of being awake and being prepared.

In this same way, Paul and Peter each make this comparison:

1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 ESV

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Jesus Himself uses this expression again twice in Revelation:

Revelation 3:3 ESV

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 16:15 ESV

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Jesus is coming! Let us be found faithful upon His return!

Think on that analogy.

A skilled thief is in and out before you know it.

In fact, most people don’t know it until the next day! Or it happens during the day and there’s no one home to stop it.

Only 13% of burglars get caught.

Why? Because they were sleeping.

Now Peter looks for some clarification:

Luke 12:41 ESV

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

Are you talking to me? You’re talking to my neighbor right?

Oh I know, this message is for the Pharisees, get with it Pharisees!

Who knows, maybe Peter was looking for some special revelation… This is just for us disciples, right?

Peter looks for a distinction that Jesus didn’t make.

Jesus responds with another parable that seems to direct attention to those whom He leaves authority and power with - the apostles and the leaders of the church:

Luke 12:42–48 ESV

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

BE FAITHFUL

A faithful servant serves faithfully

Here Jesus’ next parable concerns the manager of the servants. A servant-leader in the original sense. Being found faithful implies, as this parable does, that you’ve been entrusted with authority and responsibility and you used it in accordance with the reasons for which it was assigned.

Jesus contrasts the faithful and the unfaithful manager.

The master assigned the manager position for the sake of taking care of the servants. The faithful leader serves and provides for those they lead.

The wicked manager/leader abuses the servants and forces them to cater to him.

Verse 46: The unfaithful manager doesn’t make the cut at judgement. He is lost to the lake of burning sulfur - the final judgment.

Verses 47 and 48 appear to be punishments of varying degrees at the judgment seat of Christ.

Verse 47 shows punishment for lack of obedience

Verse 48 shows lesser punishment - but still a punishment - for the one who is ignorant but still in sin.

Note in verse 46, the master came when the wicked manager did not expect him. How did he know? Because the wicked manager wasn’t expecting at all. He did not believe he was coming back, at least not any time soon. He stopped looking for him!

So, Peter, yes Jesus was speaking to you, but remember your responsibility, your potential for reward and your potential for punishment multiply with leadership.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Let us be found ready, awake, and faithful.

Let us not grow weary in waiting, but let us grow passionate in longing.

May the longer we wait, be the more intensely we wait.

We’ve been entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ and with the souls to whom we must share it.

Will we be found faithful.

I am convinced that there is nothing that holds us back from sharing the love of God more than the fear of offending.

The fear of offense is nothing more than a love for man’s approval.