We’ve Got Chores to Do

Chores

When you were a kid, did your parents give you chores to do?

I’m sure some child labor laws were violated somewhere along the way in my family. No matter how much I complained or argued that I had more important baseball games to play, still had to get my chores done.

I learned to push a vacuum at a pretty early age. I still remember the lecture I got informing the object was to pick up all the dog hair and dirt, not just run the vacuum over the carpet and say I was done.

I learned to dust a table. I learned not to spray too much Pledge on the table. If you do, then the rag won’t pick it up and you’ll leave an oily film for your mother to find later and light you about.

I started mowing our grass when I was 12. Using a week whacker. Self-propelled mower. I wasn’t big enough to push it all over the yard.

I thought I was so smart letting the mower pick up the dog droppings. Until I had mash the grass clippings down deeper into the trash bag and brought my nasty hand back out. I started picking that up first before I mowed shortly after.

I taught all our kids to mow and trim the grass and clean up after the dog.

We lived in Indiana when all this started. Back when Sara and I were first married we bought a house when I was in Seminary. We lived between 2 single women. I vowed then if I ever had a daughter, she would know how to do yard work. She’d know how to do it or know what to hire out.

Neither of those women did any yard work. One had a brother who was a firefighter who had a lawn business on his days off. He took care of her weeds. There was no grass. She never watered or fertilized anything.

The other women had a botany experiment going on in her back yard inside her 6’ privacy fence. Every summer the weeds grew tall enough so we could see them above the fence. The front yard, another neighbor and I took turns mowing and pulling her weeds. We tried to keep them from germinating and migrating into our yards.

I don’t know if she realized we were doing that or not. She was never in her backyard. But every day she had to walk thru her front yard to her mail box at the curb. I have no idea if she noticed.

It was a good day when Sara and I moved out here and I could give my mower and weed whacker to my daughter who lived in Houston at the time. Of course, now she and our youngest son live in Glendale. She got to get rid of that mower, too.

No yard work. Just pull the occasional weed.

So, what happened if one day you decided not to do your chores. My family exercised a painful form of negative reinforcement when I was younger. My mom or my grandparents could raise welts on my legs.

Maybe that’s where I learned to dance.

When you get older, getting grounded was the worst. Can’t go out w/ friends.

Our kids went thru phases. I taught them the outside work. Sara taught them the inside stuff; how to cook, do their own laundry, vacuum, dust, all those things that get them ready for college and adulting 101.

Our kids were good for the most part. But, they had their moments.

We’d tell them, “Get this done before I get home from work.” Or, Sara’s our running errands and needs the clean dishes put away and the dirty ones loaded in the dishwasher. Before we come back!

There was the occasional time when they just looked at us and said, “I didn’t want to do it today.”

Really. Okay. Well, let me motivate you get it done yesterday.

Maybe they’d rebel and run out to play w/ their friends.

Maybe they just sat and did nothing. Watched TV.

Maybe they tried and got it wrong. Sara and I had to make sure we taught them to do it right.

The chores needed to get done and we needed to motivate them to get them done. We didn’t pay an allowance for things like that. I just had to remind from time to time who’s family they were in.

Dad, that’s not fair. My friends don’t have to do that. Why do you make me?

What’s your last name? Bowyer. What’s my last name? Bowyer. What’s your friends’ last name? Not Bowyer.

There are benefits to being a Bowyer. We towed a camper, took weekend trips, long trips to Yellowstone and Maine and Boston. We pay for your baseball gloves and uniforms. We buy you instruments to play music.

There are also responsibilities to being a Bowyer. The chores have to get done. Get busy.

When you’re given a job to do, taught how to do it right, then it’s expected that you get it done. Family works that way. Even God works that way.

Why are we still here? Why doesn’t God take us straight to heaven as soon as we come to faith? B/C, He has work for us to do and He expects us to get it done before Jesus returns.

We all stay pretty busy at it is. We work, we play, we take care of our houses and cars, we spend time w/ friends, and we do the things we enjoy doing while living here. But, the question is, are those things the main reasons God has you, not only on this earth, but in MP right now?

The reason why we are here is because we have chores to do as part of the God’s family. And, we’re supposed to have them done before Jesus comes back.

We’re in Luke 12 where Jesus is teaching the believers in the crowd. He’s preparing them, and us, for what we’ll be called on to do after He’s gone. They still don’t understand what going to happen in the months to come. We look back and know what happened. But what we may not understand is what we’re supposed to be doing right now until we see Jesus again. Either, we’ll see Him in Heaven. Or, we’ll see Him return to earth.

Be Ready

Luke 12:35–40 NIV

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Some of this we get better than they did. Jesus hadn’t left them, yet. We know that He did. So, you can understand why they might be having a hard time picking up what He’s laying down here.

But, He started out here telling them to always be ready for His return. But He hadn’t left, yet. Sure, but He will. And, He will return. Wait, watch, and expect it to happen. Live your life knowing one day Jesus is going to return to establish His kingdom on earth.

Jesus used 3 illustrations they would have understood to make His point.

First, be dressed and ready to go to work. The fishermen had certain things they wore. The carpenters had their usual dress. Housekeepers, cooks, and everyone who had a job had a uniform or some dress that made it better for them to get their work done.

Soldiers would gird their loins in preparation for a battle, or to be more agile. The tunics they wore would be down to their knees or below. So, they’d tuck the hem in their belt so they wouldn’t get tripped up.

Sara has her apron on when she gets to work making a mess in the kitchen. Her messes always lead to something delicious. But, she knows she need to keep her clothes clean.

When I go out haul firewood, I wear an old t-shirt. I know that when I’m done that shirt can’t be washed clean. It goes straight into the trash.

The second illustration they would have understood is to keep their lamps lit. Your work may need to be done after sunset and if you’re going to get it done right, you need the light.

Once again our power went out Sunday evening for a few hours. If you don’t have a generator, you had to get out your flashlight and candles in case it didn’t come back on till late.

We’ve got to be able to see to do what need to do.

The 3rd illustration, In this case, Jesus was talking about servants whose master had gone out for a wedding feast. These feasts lasted several days, maybe a week. They would have no idea when He would return. But when he did, he expected the servants to meet him at the door and take care of whatever he needed them to take care of. He might return midday. He might return at midnight, mid morning, mid-afternoon.

The lamps need t/b lit all night long so the servants are ready to greet him right away.

It would have been a major issue if the master would be able to enter the house and none of his servants came to greet him and make sure everything he wanted done got done right then. If they were sleeping, that would have been bad.

Wait. Watch. Expect his return. Be ready to greet him immediately.

Jesus is referring to His second coming here and telling us we need to diligently watch the sky for it to happen. We have no idea when. It may happen when we least expect it.

It may happen at night, for half the earth. Be ready. It may happen while we’re busy working or playing. Whatever we are doing, Jesus wants us to keep an eye on the sky.

He said, blessed are those who are dressed and ready. Blessed means deeply contented in life. Satisfied.

Whatever else may be going on in your life, b/c you know Jesus is returning, and it might be today, it keeps whatever isn’t working right in this life in perspective b/c when He does return we move right to the next life where everything works right.

Nothing breaks. Our bodies don’t. Our relationship don’t. Nothing.

At the beginning of this transition into heaven Jesus will throw us a party. There will be a banquet to end all banquets. Fantastic food and drink. He will be at the head of the table serving all of us.

This is the wedding feast of the lamb, welcoming His bride to His home. We, the church, are his bride.

This is where Jesus will pass the 4th cup of the Seder meal. You may remember every time we do communion, I mention the cup he passed that night before he was arrested was the cup of redemption. He’s about to go to the cross to pay to redeem us out of our life of slavery to sin and into freedom.

The 4th cup he doesn’t pass that night. It’s the cup of regathering. Israel remembered being regathered together in the PL. Jesus will regather all believers, Jewish and non-Jewish, brought together to reside side by side in heaven forever.

Jesus compared himself to a thief here. If a homeowner knew when a thief was coming to rob him, he’d be at home armed and ready to resist. Thieves didn’t come thru the front door. They usually dug a hole in the mud brick wall in the back of the house where they could enter unnoticed.

Typically, no one knows when a thief may come. So never leave you home unprotected. Never allow yourself to be surprised when Jesus returns. Don’t stop watching expectantly for it to happen.

As He wraps up these 3 illustrations, He transitions to a specific command for specific groups of people. Jesus will return at an unexpected time. So, always be ready.

Peter then has a question. That’s what prompts His next instruction.

When Jesus returns, He will hold us accountable for getting our chores done. Who? Everybody, but especially the leadership.

Accountability

Luke 12:41–48 NIV

Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 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 unbelievers. “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

So, Peter’s Q: Is this just for us? or is it for everyone?

Jesus’ answer: Yes.

Jesus wanted to make sure He did all He could while He was still there so that the future leaders of the church would not fall into the same bad habits of the past leaders of the Israelites.

Church leaders, not just pastors and elders, but all ministry leaders whether volunteer or paid, need to be ready to answer for our performance when Jesus does return.

This applies to everyone, but w/ a special emphasis on those who are leading ministries, programs, and people. Which, again, is pretty much all of us.

The faithful and wise manager Jesus referred to here, is a servant who was put in charge of all the other servants. His job was to feed them and take care of them so that they could get their work done. Be the boss. Motivator. Counselor. Shoulder to cry on. Even disciplinarian. But take good care of the ppl.

The ppl were the most important asset they had. If the ppl struggled, then the bsns struggled. This was the most important job among the servants.

If the wise manager does a good job, then he will get promoted and be given more responsibility and a raise.

Then, Jesus talked about 3 other different types of managers. The first guy was a wise steward of his masters people so he was promoted and rewarded.

The other 3, not so much.

What differentiates the first from the next three is faithfulness. Not faith necessarily. But being faithful to the assigned tasks.

The second guy said to himself, “the master has been gone a long time.” (Implied I doubt he’s ever coming back). “I’m the big boss now. I will beat the rest into submission and spend my time partying.”

Just like my kids telling me they didn’t feel like doing their chores that day b/c they would rather go play w/ their friends.

How’s that going to work out?

This guy is blatantly disob. Intentionally does not do what he knows the master wants him to do. He does what he wants to do.

This was a direct reference to the Jewish leadership of the day. They had all the info and data they needed to know what to do and how to do it right. They had the OT, the law, prophets, poetry, and history. But they abused their rights and didn’t fulfill their responsibility.

It had been about 2000 years since Abraham was promised a descendant who would bless the world. And about 1500 years since Moses led Israel out of Egypt, received the law from God which pointed to a Messiah who would set up his kingdom.

It had been a long time. But God’s promises have no end. Since it hadn’t happened yet, the religious leadership lived their lives as if it never would and they were in charge.

They abused the ppl, made them submit to their oppressive rules, rites, and rituals.

When the master returns, he will punish him severely.

This type of servant will get dismembered, the most graphic way possible to express the master’s rejection. He will be executed. His life on earth will end. And, he will be assigned to the place for unbelievers for all eternity. Hell.

This guy is not a believer. Never was. He might be now. But it’s too late.

Like the famous quote, “There are no unbelievers in Hell.”

The 3rd type of servant is a guy who knows what to do, but does nothing. He doesn’t do the opposite like the last guy. But, he doesn’t do what he knows he’s supposed to do.

One of the mistakes we make in trying to understand the bible is we compare c.1 middle eastern culture to modern, c.12 western American culture. There are drastic differences.

c.1 was a brutal culture. They killed animals and ppl in the colosseum for sport and people showed up to watch to be entertained.

In our colosseums today, our football stadiums, we make rules to keep ppl from getting hurt at all.

It was a whole different vibe and world.

So, when this servant is punished, it is less severe than the last guy. But he gets beaten pretty good. He is faithful, in that he is a saved man. But unfaithful in performing his assigned chores.

God disciplines us for our disob behavior b/c He loves us and wants us to do better.

Hebrews 12:4–11 NIV

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

It’s painful, but it’s educating and born of a loving Father who knows we can do better and wants what’s best for us.

The 4th type of servant Jesus referred to is a guy who just doesn’t know what to do, so he doesn’t do anything. He is naive and ignorant of what his master wants for him to do.

For the person who comes to faith in Jesus, but never goes to a bible study, or bible-preaching church to learn God’s word and what He wants him to do, the punishment still hurts but is far less severe.

The point of all this being, we know Jesus is going to return and when He does He will promote and reward the faithful and obedient; and he will punish those who did not do what they were supposed to do.

So, now the question begs, which of the four types of servants are you most like?

The unbelieving, unfaithful, do the opposite of what God wants you to do?

Let everyone fend for themselves, beat them down, and go party.

The believer who knows they should be more involved, serving the ppl in the church and community leading them closer to Christ; but just isn’t getting anything done.

The believer who just doesn’t know what to do.

Or, are you the faithful obedient one who’s blessed in this life and going to get promoted and rewarded when Jesus returns?

As a church, it’s our responsibility to provide places and programs for you to serve and be served. Then, it’s up to all of us to be proactive, get involved serving and helping the ppl here and around us grow closer to Jesus.

As individuals, it’s all on us to get it done and Jesus is in the process of holding us accountable for it, too.

This is important for us to understand. We want to know what God expects of us. And, it’s good to know He’ll hold us accountable for it.

How else would anything get done?

Applications

One Eye on the Sky?

Are you watching expectantly? Will you be surprised when Jesus returns, or are you ready?

Peter wrote in 2 Peter that our culture would get to a point where they deny God created everything, deny the flood happened, and deny Jesus will return. Are we there yet?

Are you ready? Keep one eye on the sky.

Stewards

We are stewards. A steward is someone who takes care of, manages, grows another person’s stuff. The steward doesn’t own any of it. He manages it so it grows and improves but he does it on behalf of the owner.

God owns everything. You know the what the Greek word for everything means? Everything. You, me, you house, your stuff, your investment account, your kids, everything. It’s all His. You are his steward put in charge of taking care of it, managing it, working it so it all grows.

How are you doing? First, do you believe you own your stuff? Start here. Loosen your grip. It’s all God’s.

How are you managing it? For Him? Or, for you?

What can you do w/ something you have that will make it more attractive to God?

Which type of steward are you?

Type 1, faithful and obedient. Getting your chores done, done well, and on time?

Type 2, in church, good, but still haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior. Something is keeping you from placing your faith for your eternal life in Him? I would encourage you to reconsider today.

Type 3, you’re saved, know what to do, but you rather do your own thing?

Type 4, you just don’t know what to do.

What can you do to move yourself closer to type 1? Bible study? Get involved serving someplace in a ministry around here? Maybe you just need a better quality QT, prayer life to hear what God wants you to do.

When you’re given a job to do, taught how to do it right, then it’s expected that you get it done. Family works that way. Even God works that way.

Why are we still here? Why doesn’t God take us straight to heaven as soon as we come to faith? B/C, He has work for us to do and He expects us to get it done before Jesus returns.

We all stay pretty busy at it is. We work, we play, we take care of our houses and cars, we spend time w/ friends, and we do the things we enjoy doing while living here. But, the question is, are those things the main reasons God has you, not only on this earth, but in MP right now?

The reason why we are here is because we have chores to do as part of the God’s family. And, we’re supposed to have them done before Jesus comes back.