Luke 12:41-48: a reflection

41Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?” 42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44Truly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and to be drunken, 46then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

Jesus tells of a steward set over his master's household to give the servants their food at the proper time. Blessed is that servant, he says, whom the master finds faithfully doing his work when he returns. But the servant who thinks his master delays, and begins to mistreat the others and indulge himself, will be caught unprepared when the master comes. And Jesus adds a principle: to whom much is given, much will be required; to whom much is entrusted, more will be asked.

Notice the picture of faithful stewardship Jesus draws. The servant is entrusted with responsibility in his master's absence, and his faithfulness is shown in whether he keeps doing his work well, whether or not the master is watching, and however long the master seems to delay. The faithful steward keeps at his charge; the unfaithful one grows careless, presuming on the delay. And what is required is measured by what was entrusted: much given means much required.

That parable calls us to faithful stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. We are stewards, given responsibilities, gifts, opportunities, to manage in our Master's name; and we are called to be found faithfully doing our work, not growing careless because the Master seems to delay. And the more we have been given, the more will be asked of us. Consider what God has entrusted to you, and be a faithful steward of it, found doing your work well whether or not you feel observed. Do not presume on the Master's delay to grow careless; live ready, faithful in your charge. To whom much is given, much is required; steward well what God has entrusted to you, so that you are found faithful whenever the Master returns.

Lord, you told of a steward set over the household, and said blessed is the servant found faithfully doing his work when the master returns, while the one who presumes on the master's delay and grows careless is caught unprepared; and you added that to whom much is given, much is required. Call me to faithful stewardship of what you have entrusted to me. I am a steward, given responsibilities, gifts, opportunities, to manage in your name; and you call me to be found faithfully doing my work, not growing careless because you seem to delay. And the more I have been given, the more will be asked of me. Help me consider what you have entrusted to me, and be a faithful steward of it, found doing my work well whether or not I feel observed. Keep me from presuming on your delay to grow careless; help me live ready, faithful in my charge. To whom much is given, much is required; help me steward well what you have entrusted to me, so that I am found faithful whenever you return. Make me a faithful steward, Lord.