Good afternoon, dear people.
I’m kind of embarrassed over the piece I sent last night. I was so wiped out and weary last night that I failed to proof read well enough to catch my typos. There were several. I hate doing that. Oh well—I can’t take it back now—but I can offer a corrected copy.
The boys were coughing and hacking this morning, so Becki stayed home with them while Thano and I went to separate churches alone. Soon we’ll be driving the boys to the meeting point to return them to their mother. Then tomorrow we’ll be going to the airport to get on a plane headed for Missouri to spend some time with Katherine and Joe and family. Should be fun. Besides seeing the changes made in their three girls over the years, we’ll be able to meet Thomas for the first time—the grandson we’ve only seen in photos.
Blessings on the rest of your day. Ray.
The context here is all part of Jesus’ response to the question raised by the disciples, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what supernatural sign should we expect to signal your coming and the completion of this age?” (24:3, TPT). The FOCUS VERSE puts the spot light on those living when He actually returns—emphasizing the importance of faithful service till that happens.
If I take time to assign practical meaning to these metaphors Jesus uses, the whole illustration carries for me greater impact and significance. For example, “servant”—such a person, of course, is not an owner. He is simply a caretaker/manager/custodian over the assigned area and affairs of the owner. In holding such a position, this servant must meet certain qualifications—he must be reliable, wise, faithful, and dependable. After all, what kind of an employer doesn’t require those qualities from his employees?
Consider, “the master’s house.” If I link that with the insight of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, I have greatly expanded personal meaning and responsibility: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (NIV) Wow! In that regard, does it then fit that “the responsibility of overseeing others in his house” could be referring to my body, mind, spirit, arms, legs, private parts, thoughts, stomach, eyes, ears, mouth, etc., all joining together to form one little segment of THE MASTER’S HOUSE over which I have been assigned responsibilities? After all, each of those personal parts are like sub-servants—each needing to be fed and managed by The Word of God—about which Jesus said (quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3) “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NIV).
As I try this shoe on, and evaluate it in every way I can think of, I think it fits perfectly.