The title of the talk today that I've given, a little bit different to the one that was on the screen, is Waiting, Watching, and Working for Jesus.
Waiting, Watching, and Working for Jesus.
The passage that John read to us, in some ways, is one that maybe takes us a little bit of time to fully get our heads around.
Because actually there are three short stories woven together and told really quickly in this.
And we're going to dive in in just a minute or two to each of those three short stories.
But I want you to get a sense of the overall themes of what Jesus is actually communicating to us.
If you do have your Bible, either in paper version or on phone, it'd be great if you could look with me to Luke chapter 12, verse 35 to 48.
Stick with me. Make sure that I'm not going off-piste at any point.
Because it's God's word and it's God's voice that we need to hear today.
As we open up his word and try and really think about what he has to say for us.
So the first thing that jumps out for me as I look at this is two words that are repeated time and time and time again.
And I'm using the newer version of the NIV here.
And I find in this passage that 11 times over, I hear the word or I read the word servants or service.
Okay, let's just rattle through some of them.
Verse 35, we have to be ready for service.
We have to be like servants waiting for their master to return.
Verse 37, it'll be good for servants whose master finds them watching.
And as we go on, he will dress himself to serve.
Verse 38, it'll be good for servants whose master finds them ready.
Verse 42, who is the faithful and wise manager whom the master puts in charge of his servants.
Verse 43, it'll be good for the servant whom the master finds doings.
And so on and so on.
Lots and lots of references, 11 and all, to being servants.
And then the other word that we see running right through this, stick with me, is the word master.
Let's look out for that, okay?
So verse 38, waiting for their master.
Verse 37, good for the servants whose master finds them watching.
Verse 38, good for the servants whose master finds them ready.
And verse 46, the master of the servant will come on a day when he's not expected.
Verse 47, the servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants
will be beaten with many blows, it says in this version.
So stories told in different ways with slightly different twists in them, all trying to make absolutely clear.
Remember, this is Jesus teaching.
There's a crowd around, but he appears to be focused largely on his disciples.
And he's talking to them about the master and the servant relationship.
He's using these stories, I think, to emphasize to them that his followers should see themselves as servants
and should see him as the master.
And the other theme that keeps running through the stories is the idea of the master going away,
but the master's sure and certain return, albeit no one knows when that return will be.
Now, this raises quite a number of questions in my mind as I look at these stories.
And some of the questions in my mind are simply not addressed in this passage at all.
And I want to just mention two of the questions that are not answered here,
which I think are quite important for our understanding of what is actually talked about and explained here.
So as I think of these stories of the master and the servant, I wonder, why does the master go away?
It's a common theme in all of them.
The master tasks his servants with things, but then leaves them.
Big subject.
Why does the master go away?
For me, I then think, so if Jesus is the master and we are his servants, why does he leave?
Why is he not here physically present with us as he once was?
And for that, I turn to John 14, another gospel for some answers where Jesus says,
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me.
My father's house has many rooms.
If that were not so, would I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me,
that you also may be where I am.
You know the way to the place where I'm going.
So why is he going away?
He is going away in order to prepare a place for us.
And the words that I'd really like you to bear in mind today are these words that he said in John 14.
I will come back.
I hope for many of us, these words might bring comfort.
I hope for some of us, they might bring real challenge.
They've certainly challenged me as I've reflected on them.
I will come back.
They could hardly be simpler words, could they?
They could hardly be clearer words.
And yet it's also a theme threaded through our passage.
The master who goes away is the master who says, I will come back.
Another question I have.
Why do the servants have no idea as to when the master is returning?
It's another theme that runs through.
No idea.
Why is that?
The answer is not really given here.
But for that question and that answer, I turn to the book of 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 8 to 10 where I read this.
With the Lord, a day is as a thousand years.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
And I could look to so many verses of scripture which contain what for many of us is sometimes difficult and at times confusing teaching about what the return of Jesus will actually look like.
But I want us to hold on to some certainties today as taught in the Bible.
Number one, as we've learned, Jesus saying, I will come back.
Number two, the reason why he's not yet returned back, the reason why the servants don't know when he's returning back, is because of the patience of God.
It's because God is patient and loving and wants everyone to have a chance to come to know him.
He doesn't want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
That verse is one which I encourage you to hang on to, to find real comfort in.
2 Peter chapter 3 verse 8 to 10, alongside that incredible teaching that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years.
A thousand years are like a day.
Think of all of this through God's perspective.
A day like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.
So I think then if those are some of the unanswered questions, one of the key questions that are answered in this passage or that is answered is this question.
What should the servants do while the master's away?
Okay, we don't know when he's coming back.
We're absolutely certain he will come back at some point.
But what should we do while he's away?
Now you notice, I think the thrust of this passage is teaching for those who are already in a relationship with a master.
Okay, so I'm going to be focusing largely in my comments over the next few minutes on those of us who would already say,
yes, we're signed up to follow Jesus.
Yes, we've experienced what it is to know Jesus as our, as our saviour.
And so we are in that relationship with him.
But there is, of course, plenty of other teaching in scripture and indeed relevance in this passage for some who might be here today who would acknowledge, perhaps, or think that it's possible that you've got no relationship at all with Jesus.
And when you hear this business already of Jesus coming back and of us not knowing when because God is patient and wants us all to have a chance to repent,
then I wonder what, how that impacts on your heart and your life.
And I trust that for all of us, we would have a desire today to be ready for when Jesus does come back.
And I trust that we might also recognize that that could be even today.
One of the songs that I really enjoyed and was challenged by as I was growing up was the Larry Norman song.
I wish we'd all been ready.
Can I test the room?
Do some of you know this song?
I'm not seeing much recognition.
Margo does, which is great.
Margo and I must have some similar music tastes.
Man and wife asleep in bed.
She hears a noise and turns her head.
He's gone.
I wish we'd all been ready.
Two men walking up a hill.
One disappears and one's left standing still.
I wish we'd all been ready.
There's no time to change your mind.
The sun has come and you've been left behind.
Really challenging, solemn words in that song.
I will come back.
But I have to say my own experience of my own journey to faith and to knowing Jesus
was not one where scare stories had any impact on me at all.
And that is not what I want to bring today.
Rather, I think this passage encourages us to think of what it looks like
for us, his followers, to be waiting for the return of Jesus, our Lord and Master.
So let's look at the stories in a little bit more detail.
Verse 36, let's get into this one.
Servants are waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet.
And it's quite clear that these servants have got no idea at all when he will return.
He might be returning in the middle of the night,
or they might have to wait until almost daybreak before the master actually returns.
But despite this, what should they do?
Well, the lamps should be kept burning.
The master should not be coming back to find the house in pitch darkness.
He should not be coming back to find that the doors are locked,
the windows have been shut,
and the servants are fast asleep in their beds.
The master is expecting a sense of anticipation,
a sense of readiness for his return.
Now, as I was beginning to prepare this, I thought,
you know, we don't really have that master-servant relationship so much today.
And then I thought, how silly am I?
Of course we have it, and I am one of the servants.
Perhaps along with some of the others,
I know certainly some of you have had a career in the civil service.
Some of you, like me, live our whole working lives merely to serve.
We don't live our lives to be in control or to pursue our own agenda,
but to, in my case, to be serving the ministers of the government of the day,
whoever they may be, whatever their policies might be.
My role is to help and support and serve them as they seek to implement their policies.
But, of course, there's lots of different jobs in the civil service,
and the one that really comes to mind as I was reading this passage
about people awaiting the master's return
was the job in private office in the civil service.
It's a job that Aileen, John Gemmell's pastor, used to have.
And in private office, the key thing that you have to do
is ensure that every need of your minister is attended to.
In particular, they must know where they are going,
when they are going to go there.
They must have clear and proper material about exactly what they must do and say
when they are going to wherever they are meant to go.
And the key thing about being in private office is you have no idea what your working hours will be.
No idea.
Because you are a servant there to serve the minister.
So if the minister goes to an event and it goes on a bit
because there are engagements or conversations or things to happen,
do you think for a minute that the civil servant says,
well, sorry, it's quarter to five, I'm away home?
Not at all.
They won't survive in private office for a week if that was their mentality.
Contrary to those of you who think in the civil service,
we only work from 10 till 4.
It's not true.
The servant will simply be there waiting,
waiting for the minister to finish their business,
whatever it might be,
whatever the time of the day or night.
And when the minister is finished,
we'll be there to continue to serve them.
Where do we go to now?
What can I pick up from that meeting that you'd like me to do?
Are there any particular action points that need followed up now,
even though it might be late at night?
That's fine.
Here, happy to serve.
But isn't it strange in this passage,
there's a twist.
Did you notice the twist?
It's not the case that the master returns and says to the servants,
the good servants,
well, thanks for waiting up.
Right, where's my three course meal?
Well, despite the time of the day or night.
That doesn't happen.
What does the master do here?
The master comes.
Stay with me to make sure that I'm not,
that what I'm saying is true here.
It says, verse 37,
it will be good for the servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
Truly I tell you, he'll dress himself.
He, the master, will dress himself to serve.
Will make them recline at the table.
And will come and wait on them.
This is an amazing twist.
This is a twist where the master,
the one who is in charge,
chooses to become the servant.
Does it remind you of anything?
Does it remind you of the great God
and the great Lord whom we have been worshipping?
Who humbled himself?
Who, despite being Lord of all,
took on himself the nature of a servant
and was made in human likeness.
Does it remind you of the one who,
when with his disciples,
when they were all standing on ceremony
and thinking, well, we're all too important
to wash one another's dirty feet.
Does it remind you of the one who would take the towel?
The one who would kneel at the feet of his disciples.
He who was Lord of all
would be the one who would come in front of them and serve.
This is a wonderful master
whom these servants are actually tasked with serving.
Not one who will manipulate,
not one who will use or misuse his power,
but one who, despite being the master,
is also the one who will return
and who will serve.
I trust we can be encouraged
by the opportunities that we have
to serve a master like this.
But the key point from here,
clearly, is that we should be watching
and waiting for the master's return,
even though we have no idea
when he will be returning.
And I wonder if some of us have assumed
that that return will never happen.
Been so long.
Nothing's changed.
It's never going to happen in our lifetime.
Maybe some of us think it'll never happen at all.
In which case, we need to go on to the second story
because the second story's got particular resonance for us
if that's where we're at.
It's there in verse 39.
It's such a short story, you could almost miss it.
But it is a different story
because here it says,
if the owner of the house
had known at what hour the thief was coming,
he wouldn't have let his house be broken into.
You must be ready
because the Son of Man will come at an hour
where you do not expect him.
You must be ready
for the Son of Man will come at an hour
where you do not expect him.
Can I illustrate this point here, please,
by telling you about the puppy
that has come into the lives of the Johnston family
in the last few months
and is probably actually on the cusp
of becoming a full-grown dog.
The one thing I have learned about our puppy, Harris,
is that he loves it when we come home.
And I don't know really what he does
for the hours and hours and hours
that we sometimes leave him on his own.
But what I do know
is that nine times out of ten,
as we drive into our driveway
and look at the small panes of glass
either side of our door,
he's there.
He's there, poised, waiting.
For all I know,
he has potentially been there
looking out the window,
waiting for the preceding four or five hours.
He's possibly there now.
Spare a thought for him.
Just waiting, patiently.
And how does he react when we come?
He's got no idea when we come,
but no matter when we come,
he's there, leaping, bounding,
jumping up,
showing his absolute joy and delight
that we have returned.
And I'm challenged as I look at this
and I hear this second story from Jesus.
I'm challenged about whether I've got
that real desire
for the Son of Man to return.
And am I ready?
Or have I got so many things
that I want to do in my life
that in some ways
I see as more important
than the return of Jesus Christ,
whom we've been singing as Lord of all.
That's the second story.
But I have to say,
the third story is really important
because there,
the analogy of my little dog
breaks down entirely.
Right?
Because the reality is,
Harris, while he's waiting for our return,
is doing absolutely nothing.
Right?
He is just sitting there,
maybe sleeping.
And I wonder if some of us,
and I think as we look at the book
of 1 Thessalonians,
we see that some of the early Christians
thought that what they should do
while they waited for Jesus' return
was nothing.
Right?
Jesus is coming back.
So I suppose we need to make sure
we keep ourselves pure
and we keep ourselves clean
and we make sure we're ready.
But actually,
what we do,
well,
it doesn't really matter what we do.
So let's give up our job.
Let's sell up our house.
Let's make sure
we basically gather together
in a little huddle
and just hope that he comes back soon.
Is that what the Bible teaches us to do?
Absolutely not.
Let's look at the third story.
If the first two stories
tell us about waiting
and watching for Jesus' return,
the third story speaks to us
about working
while we await
Jesus' return.
Because in this story,
what we see
is that the master
has tasked the servant
with work to do.
He said,
listen,
I'm going to give you
a real responsibility
while you're here
waiting for my return.
And so I'm going to ask you
to look after
some of the other servants
in my household
and I want you to give them
their food
at the proper time
and, you know,
manage the affairs
of my house.
And we read in verse 43
that it's going to be good
for the servant
who understands
what he needs to do
and sets his mind to it
and does it
with all of his heart
and soul.
And that servant
is going to get
an even greater reward.
Verse 45,
we've got an example
of someone
who also knows
what he needs to do.
He's been given work to do
while he awaits
the master return
and what does he decide to do?
He becomes lazy.
He says,
oh,
my master's taking
such a long time
to return
and so he starts
to beat the other servants,
both men and women.
He eats and drinks
and he gets drunk
and that person
comes back
and faces
what is a pretty gory
punishment
as you'll read about
in that passage.
I find this
a hugely challenging
story
and it makes me think
about the sort of work
that Jesus,
our master,
might want us
to do
while we await
his return.
What were the characteristics
of the terrible servant
in that story?
What were the characteristics?
He wasn't marked
by a care or a love
for those that were
in the household.
Rather the reverse.
He was abusive.
He was selfish.
He was lazy.
What were the characteristics
of the servant
who was rewarded?
He was one
who was working
diligently
while he awaited
the master's return.
Look at verse 47,
48
which I think
talks to us
about the importance
of knowing
what it is
the master wants
to do.
So in verse 47
the servant
who knows
what the master
wants to do
will need to do it.
Verse 48
recognises
that some of us
might be a little bit
unsure
about what the master
actually wants to do
and there there'll be
greater leniency.
Verse 48
reminds us
that from those
to whom much
has been given
much will be demanded
and I think
we can probably
pause today
and look at our own
life and circumstance
and recognise
that much
much has been given
to all of us.
We've been given
time and energy.
We've been given
an assurance
through Jesus
that we're loved
we're valued.
We've been brought
into relationship
with God
through Jesus Christ.
We know our sins
are forgiven.
We know the Holy Spirit
lives in us.
We've been given much.
We have great hope
for the future
and now
I do feel
that the challenge
of this passage
is that just as
faith without works
is described
by James
as dead
so simply
receiving all
of that from God
and responding
by doing nothing
with it
and by sheer
laziness
and idleness
is perhaps
the very scenario
that we need
to feel
challenged about.
How does God
want us to work?
Well I'm going to
invite one of our
church members
Robert to come
and tell us
a little bit
about his
experience
of work
and Robert
I am now
realising that
the questions
that you and I
had discussed
in advance
I do not have
in front of me
here which I'm
really sorry.
So Robert
stick with us.
I think the
first one was
probably just to
tell us a little
bit about yourself
and what you do
and maybe your
journey to get
to what you're
doing.
Okay.
Hi I'm Robert
for those of you
that don't know me.
I'm a GP
family doctor
I work down
in Peebles
a small town
about 20 miles
south of here
and I've done
that for the
last four years
prior to that
I was doing
various training
jobs in hospitals
and so on
and before that
medical school
I was relatively
late in going
back to medical
school.
I was 26
when I went
back to study
prior to that
I had studied
engineering
and was on
a completely
different course
in life
and really
came to be
aware in quite
a profound way
that that's not
what God
wanted me to
do.
I had a good
job and I
enjoyed working
there where I
was but I
came to
gradually realise
it was something
else in life
for me so it
was actually
quite a big
step for me
to go back
to study at
that age.
Suddenly I had
no money and
all sorts of
issues around
where to live
and so on
and God
really provided
along the way
and probably
the most notable
thing is that
if you ever find
yourself in that
situation
you're maybe not
sure that this is
where you're meant
to be just now
certainly my
experience was
that God
in a very real
way can speak
and change that
and it's I think
important to be
aware of that
potential and to
really be still
and listen to God
because I had
enormous blessing
although I took
what was actually
quite a tricky
decision at the
time to change
direction
I was enormously
blessed for doing
so.
So Robert you've
got this real
sense that the
work you're doing
now is the
work that God
wants you to do
which I think is
tremendous which
kind of takes us
on then to just
really keen to
hear a little bit
about how does
that conviction
make a difference?
Well so in my
job I see all
sorts of people
from the beginning
of life to the
end of life
and all the
challenges that
go along the
way and that
in itself can be
a difficult thing
it can take its
toll on your
own health
you know just
the stresses and
strains of that
as many jobs
can do
but it's a real
reassurance to
know that this
is what God
wants me to do
you know it
could be quite
discouraging at
times
people talk about
burnout and
various different
jobs and something
to be aware of
but it really
gives me a
reassurance and
I suppose my
job enables me
to practically
apply a lot of
the teaching in
the Bible about
people and for
looking after
people when
they're struggling
in life and
so that's a
joy really to
be able to do
that.
In terms of my
own well-being
the Bible
really provides
a lot of
support and
guidance on
that as well
the passage I
was going to
mention here is
in Philippians 4
verse 6
where it says
don't be
anxious
in every
situation
every situation
present your
petitions to
God in prayer
and God will
give you the
peace that
passes
understanding
it's this
peace that
is beyond
what we're
able to
understand and
that is a
real strength
and a real
encouragement to
me and as it
should be to
everyone that's
there and it's
a very real
thing.
Robert thanks so
much was there
anything else that
you wanted to
add about this
namely any other
questions I've
forgotten?
Right excellent
thanks so much
Robert it's great
to hear a little
bit about what
work looks like
for you and
just before I
finish up here
could I I just
hope some of you
might be genuinely
encouraged to
think much perhaps
more deeply about
what it means to
be a Christian
in the workplace
or what does it
mean as a
Christian to be
seeking to do
good work if
you're maybe not
in an employment
situation what does
it mean to be
doing good work
day in day out
if so I've got a
book to recommend
for you it's this
book by a guy
called Matt
Perman what's
best next
subtitled how the
gospel transforms
the way you get
things done so
it's not primarily a
book about just
being more super
efficient there's a
little bit there
but it's a book
that fundamentally
says that as
people who
recognize ourselves
as servants of
God in what we
do as people with
a real purpose in
our everyday
situation we have
unlimited opportunities
to do good works
that's what the
servant in our
passage who was
commended did he
did good works he
sought to love and
serve others and
the servant in our
passage who was
punished was one who
was selfish and only
looked out for
himself and I love
this little section
from the book which
says this when you're
answering emails you
aren't just answering
emails you're doing
good works when you
attend meetings you
aren't just attending
meetings you're doing
good works when you
make supper for your
family you aren't just
making supper for your
family you're doing
good works when you put
the kids to bed you
aren't just putting the
kids to bed you are
doing a good work and
he goes on to talk
about a life of serving
God as a life of joy
adventure and excitement
far more exciting in
fact than a life lived
for yourself no matter
how many times you
might get to travel the
world so our time is
nearly up and I want
to hand back to Andrew
to close us with two
great songs that I
think will allow us to
focus our minds on that
certainty of Jesus
return but as we close
let me be very clear
about one thing despite
what we've talked about
in the last few minutes
about the need for those
servants not only to be
watching and waiting but
also working let's be
very clear that being in
that relationship with
Jesus in the first place
is what this all hinges on
I'm not suggesting for a
minute that by simply
working our socks off and
trying to do good we will
thereby be ready for the
return of the master not at
all but rather those of us
who have had that encounter
with Jesus Christ are now
encouraged to be people who
will watch who will wait and
who will work let's pray
so Lord Jesus we thank you for
the confidence that we have
that you will return
help us to anticipate that
more today help us to watch
help us to wait and help us to
do exactly what you would call
us to do in service of you as
we await your return
talking bye
me
important
find out
fine
no