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March 06, 2006
Stumper
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
-Luke 12:42-48
Harsh words! Does this really mean that if we happen to be sinning at the moment when Jesus returns, we will be condemned? No wonder Luther was driven to obsession with confessing constantly. What about Romans 10:13: "For everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved?"
Contradictory?
Posted by Megan at March 6, 2006 08:26 PM
Comments
luke calls us to be ready for Christs return. however we all know that we are not perfect and are really nearly constantly sinning... (if you dont think thats true wait 5 min)
your question comes down to essentually what is required for salvation. is it simply as romans states confess with your mouth and belive in your heart or is it as some people belive something more.
Posted by: Ben362 at March 6, 2006 09:08 PM
One thing I just noticed reading your post, is that the work the steward is to be engaged in is to "give them (the other servants) their food allowance at the proper time" and the bad steward mistreats his fellow servants. Once again, the emphasis is on relationship. It's for this -- the way we treat each other -- that one will be exalted and another punished.
Posted by: Different Dan at March 7, 2006 11:43 AM
The Lord really loves us, doesn't he?
Posted by: Dan at March 7, 2006 11:45 AM
I believe that the message of this paragle is not that we have to be perfect, but that we need to be faithful. Not an attitude of "Well, I can't be perfect, so why bother trying?" but an attitude of allowing God to change our hearts so that we want to try to please him.
Posted by: Sue at March 10, 2006 10:30 PM
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
~Romans 14:23
So if you know what the Lord wants and you choose to do something else continuously is that not the same as saying I am God? I dictate what God wants. If a person truly believes in God they will do what they can to remove the barriers (not putting down extra ones) and grow closer in their walk with God.
Posted by: Steve O at March 30, 2006 11:55 AM