Living in Light of Eternity ~ Luke 12:41-48

January 31, 2016 ~ New City Church of Calgary ~ Pastor John Ferguson
Intro: It seems like almost anyone who has had a job can testify to the saying, When the boss is away, the
workers will play. I had a job like that in university where I worked at a sporting good store. Employees
played games, did homework, played practical jokes on one anotheranything and everything except what
they were supposed to dountil they saw the owner drive up in her. Then there was a mad scramble to
straighten things and hide any evidence that they were occupied with anything other than work.
Many people take this approach with their spiritual lives. For some, it takes the expression, I will get serious
about God when I get old, lived my life, and am closer to meeting my Creator. For others it simply looks like
what the young man in Kensington told me when I asked him if he thought death is the end of everything or
just the beginning? His response, I have literally not given two seconds of thought about that. And some
Christians who say they follow Jesus nevertheless live as if they dont. At least thats what their friends say.
When we open the pages of Scripture, we are confronted with the life and ministry of Jesus of
Nazareth, who over and over called people to live in light of an eternity. Jesus spoke of the coming
kingdom of Godthe coming revolutionin which God will set this world to right. And if thats trueand
Jesus said you should bank your life on itthen it has enormous implications for the way we live right
here an right now, because right now counts forever.
Last week, we began looking at a teaching of Jesus in which he began prepping his disciples for his
eventual departure and certain return. They could not hardly grasp his teaching that he was going to go to
Jerusalem and there would be crucified, let alone that after his crucifixion he would be raised from the dead,
ascend to heaven and return to usher in the full kingdom of God. Nevertheless, Jesus needed to tell them
these things because in time they would understand.
He gave them two word pictures: (1) Live like a faithful and expectant servant; (2) live like an alert and
prepared homeowner. Main Point, vs. 40, You also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect.
But this prompts a question from the Apostle Peter, and well consider his question and the answer of Jesus
today in our study called, Living in Light of Eternity in Luke 12:41-48. Hard sayings of Jesus.
41 Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?
1. Peter asks a good question, b/c sometimes Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, but then explained
the meaning to the disciples to make sure they understood.
2. Jesus answers the question with a question.
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 finds so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
1. Verdict: The servant being praised here was appointed as a steward who has the responsibility of managing the masters household while he his away.
In the previous parable about the master returning from a wedding, the servants were praised for their
readiness. Here they are praised for their faithfulness (HT: Ryken).
Now gets a promotion. He is blessed. But how? Greater responsibility b/c he has proven trustworthy.
2. Principle: the Master notices and rewards the faithfulness of his servants.
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 Mt. 25:14ff, the parable of the talents: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over
little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master (vs. 21).
3. General application to everyone: Jesus has been talking about weighty things, possessions, identity,
eternity. And he calls each one of us to live in light of the Kingdom of God. Seek the Kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV), Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering Gods grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the
very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
Bottom line: Jesus is calling all of us to be faithful stewards in light of his return.
4. Specific application to the leaders of the church. Here, Jesus is speaking as Peter suspects, to them as
leaders of his movement. NT describes the church as Gods household (1 Tim 3:15) & the apostles as
stewards (1 Cor 4:1). They were to feed Gods sheep (John 21:15ff), and this in turn is passed on to other
trusted leaders: the pastors and elders of local churches (e.g. 2 Tim. 4:2).
Jesus will reward faithful servants, buthe will also judge wicked ones who prey on others.
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 will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
1. This statement is as jarring as it is serious. Jesus acknowledges that there will be those in places of
influence and authority who take advantage of others. They live as if the Master will not return. They act as
if they will get away with their abuse of others. To them, Jesus gives a very stern warning.
2. He says (1) the master will return; and (2) there will be a judgment.
Question: think about the recent scandal of RCC where priests molested children entrusted to their care,
and the RCC in turn try to cover up known instances of abuse by simply moving child abusing priests to
other parishes? If you can be angry with that and want justice served, then why cant Jesus be angry and
promise that justice will be served?
3. Cut in pieces sounds brutal, but remember Jesus is using an idiom that the original hearers would
have understood as a severe but just punishment and would not have been understood literally. (1) Like
saying, My boss are going to kill me / he got chewed up & spit out by his boss / he got cut down to
size. (2) The master puts him with the unfaithful.
In context, it means to be cut off, i.e., to be placed outside the coming kingdom, where there is weeping
and gnashing of teeth. And this is Good News.
Joshua Ryan Butlers account of the native American, Jeremiah, in Skeletons in Gods Closet, pp. 109ff.
47 And that servant who knew of his masters 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.
1. Jesus is simply stating that there will be a judgment, and the judgment will be fairly dispensed. The more a
servant knows, the more grievous is his sin against that knowledge, and the more severe the discipline.
2. WCF 33:1, .all people who have ever lived on earth [will] appear before the judgment set of Christ in
order to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive judgment according to what
they have done in the body, wether good or evil.
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Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they
entrusted much, they will demand more.
1. The follower of Christ knows two things: (1) God has given him or her time, talent, and treasures, and.
(2) My God-given time/ talent/ and treasure is to be invested in Christs kingdom.
2. If I am faithful, when Jesus returns he says I will be blessed because Jesus promises greater rewards.
And warnings like these serve to grab my attention so I dont waste my life and squander my gifts.
So why does Luke record this account in his historical autobiography of Jesus?
1. Because Jesus wants us to face our destiny, and to show us our need for the Saviour. Jesus is the wise
and faithful servant of God who took our unfaithfulness upon himself when he died on the Cross.
2. Because Jesus will return one day, right now counts forever. My God-given life is not to be wasted, but to
be invested in the coming revolution of God that Jesus spoke about. He wants us to be faithful and fruitful.
Main Idea: While the Lord is away, faithful servants prepare for that Day.
Jesus wants us to live in light of his return when he will usher in the Kingdom of God in all its glory and all its
brilliance. If we buy into this, then that transforms every moment b/c right now counts forever.
1. Illustration: Such must have been the case with a young law student who sought advice from Prime
Minister, William Gladstone. Young man, the only advice I have for you is go home, read your Bible, and
think about eternity.
2. Application: Are you living in light of eternity? Am I living intentionally in light of the return of Christ, or
am I squandering the time, talents, and treasures he has entrusted to me? Do I live as if my life is my own,
or do I embrace the fact that my life is not my own, but has been bought with the precious blood of Jesus?
3. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is laid
up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

4. Upcoming opportunities to grow in what it means to live in light of eternity:

Sunday morning series: Licensed to Kill
Sunday evening series: Gods at War

NCC, while the Lord is away, may you be faithful servants who prepare for that Day, and
may you be a people who live in light of the return of Jesus because right now counts forever.

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