Luke 12:37

Luke 12:37 says, Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.  Jesus said that we will be blessed if He finds us watching for His return.  We should live every day as if it is the day that Jesus will return, but we should be busy doing what He has called us to do at the same time.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.  Whatever time of the day Jesus may return, we as Christians should be alert and ready for His return.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Jesus compared His return to a man not allowing a thief to break into his house if he knew when the thief was coming.  Therefore, to prevent a break in, since he didn't know for sure when a thief might come, the man had to always be alert for it to happen.  We cannot know when Jesus Christ is going to return, so we must live prepared for it to happen at any moment.  Verse forty concludes, Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.  It seems that many Christians are convinced that the return of Christ will be at any moment, but He tells us He will return when He is least expected.  We are not to spend our time trying to pinpoint the time of Christ's return, but are simply to be working and ready at all times.  Verse forty-eight states, Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?  Peter wanted to know if the parable was only for the disciples, or for everyone.  The word of Jesus Christ will always apply to all who put their faith in Him, and never just to a select few.  Verse forty-two adds, And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  Jesus answered Peter with a question of His own.  The parable applied to all Christians was the answer to the question. Verse forty-three continues, Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Not just a few, but all servants who were doing their duty would be blessed when the master returned, and so shall it be with followers of Christ when the Master, Jesus Christ Himself, returns.  Verse forty-four continues, Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.  Jesus said that those who are found faithful would be rewarded for their faithfulness. Verse forty-five says, But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;  Verse forty-six adds, The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  Jesus warned those who had professed to be faithful servants but who failed to continue to be faithful when the Master's return was delayed that they would be counted with the unbelievers.  This does not mean that they lost their salvation, but that they never had it to start with.  Verse forty-seven continues, And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  Verse forty-eight concludes, But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Those who knowingly commit sins after they become Christians will be held to a higher standard than those who unknowingly commit them.  One day, even though we are forgiven of our sins, we will answer for our actions as followers of Christ.  The more that God blesses us with as His followers, the more accountable we will be for how we have used it.