Get Ready! Be Watchful!

Luke 12:35-48

What would you do with a Million Dollars from a lottery ticket you just bought? John Smith was such a man who had no idea he would win the lottery . He like many other men bought his ticket stuck it in a pocket with a shrug of his shoulders. He had forgotten all about his impulsive decision to buy a ticket with his other purchases, only to discover a few days later that he would never have to work for a paycheck again.

Unfortunately, there are “bolts from the blue” that aren’t so happy. For example, January 18, 1979, Stephanie May received a visit from her pastor, bearing tragic news. A twin engine airplane crashed just after takeoff near Aspen Colorado, and in an instant she lost he r husband, John Edward, her son David Edward her daughter Karla Emily and her son-in-law Richard. Suddenly, Stephanie’s family shrunk by four. How do you prepare for such a moment?

In our busy lives, filled with so many distractions, it's easy to lose sight of our spiritual priorities. How prepared are we for the moments that truly matter? What does it mean to be vigilant, and how do we embody faithfulness in our daily walk with God? As we unpack these verses, let us uncover lessons of stewardship and accountability, reminders that our faith is not idle but active.

Jesus spent much of His Ministry teaching His disciples about their ultimate future… The kingdom to come and their eternal citizenship in it. After commanding them not to worry, not to be anxious, not to seek what the world seeks, not to be concerned with the things that you can buy or touch or feel. He stated, “Be dressed in Readiness, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?” An how can those words help us today?

The Gospel Of Luke may give us that answer. In Chapter 12, verse 35 we begin to reveal more of the answer.

Jesus commands the following :

KJV= “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.”

NLT= “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.”

Wait! Why is Jesus telling His disciples this? Why is the Savior of this world , the Son of God speaking like this?

Because he implores us to be like servants who keep their lamps burning, ready to open the door at a moment’s notice. This imagery of light and readiness invites us to examine the state of our spiritual house. Are we prepared for the unexpected, and how diligently are we tending to the callings God has placed upon our lives?

Stay with me because we will be going a little faster.....

Verse 36:

"And you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.”

This verse compares believers to servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet. The servants are expected to be alert and ready to welcome their master as soon as he arrives.Application: Stress the importance of spiritual vigilance and readiness in one's faith journey, akin to the anticipation of joyous events.

Verse 37:

"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them."

Jesus highlights the unexpected reward for the faithful servants. The master serves them, which reverses typical roles and signifies great honor and blessing.

Verse 38:

"And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants."

The second and third watches refer to late-night hours, emphasizing the unpredictability of the master’s return and the need for constant readiness.

The second illustration of being diligent and prepared is different. Jesus talks about the surprise break in of an unexpected intruder. Burglars don’t send postcards announcing the time and place of their next target, so the home owner must remain alert at all times.

Overall Message:

The passage calls believers to lifelong alertness and fidelity, living each day as if it could be the day of Christ's return.

A challenge is presented: are we living in a way that continuously honors God and prepares us for meeting Him?

We continue this magnificent passage in the Gospel of Luke...

Verse 40: We can see that Jesus applies these stories to His own return, using His characteristic self-designation “Son of Man”.

But that is not the end of this story.

Peter as usual says what others only dared to think. He asks, Who are the servants in your story? US twelve? Kingdom leaders? All your followers? Who is responsible for the never ending task of maintaining constant readiness for the Master’s return?

Application

As Christians, we are all stewards of the gifts and responsibilities God entrusts to us. This includes our time, talents, and resources. The faithful servant is one who wisely manages what has been given to them.

The passage serves as a reminder to live with an eternal perspective. It encourages believers to live each day as if the Lord could return at any moment, maintaining a heart of readiness and expectation.

Conclusion

The importance of living a life of integrity and faithfulness in the present, inspired by the hope of future rewards in the Kingdom.

Reflect on your roles and responsibilities and to serve diligently and wisely, knowing that the ultimate reward is to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the house of the LORD.”