THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT A servant that is faithful is called a wise steward, “whom (his lord) shall make ruler over his household.” (Luke 12:42) There is no question that this is speaking about one who belongs to the Lord, is saved. In the passage this servant will be given their “portion of meat in due season.”(vs 42) Before any say this is not about the believer in the body of Christ, it is noted by Paul to the Galations, the believer should “not be weary in well doing: for in (due season) we shall reap if we faint not.” (Gal.6:9) Both passages point to judgment at a future date. The Lord opens up a can of worms for todays fundamentalist when he begins to explain to the disciples things about receiving in due season, which for the saved points to the Judgment Seat of Christ. Most teachers of the Word dwell on (vs 43) and just stop from going further down into what the Lord is saying about (that servant). (Vs 43) says, “Blessed is (that servant), whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” The phrase (that servant) is very important to see in order to understand the mindset of the Lord Jesus Christ about judging His own. Why? Because of the word “But” in (vs 45). When you read what Jesus will say that is so hard for most believers to want to understand about our judgment as part of the house of God (1Pet.4:17), you will see that Jesus is talking about the very same servant who was a faithful steward over his household in this life, we now live. Good things are ahead, in due season, for the believer who is faithful unto the Lord. “But.” Here it comes. Jesus said, “But and if (that servant) say in his heart ..” Immediately, we should recognize, this is the same person the Lord praised for faithfulness. But, what if this servant says “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.” (vs 45) Surely there aren’t some believers who don’t look for the Lord to come. And, who would even want to call others brethren who have a poor reputation in the work world for meanness. Oh, what about some brethren who eat and drink, “to be drunken.” Anybody ever think somebody is truly saved who has drinking problems? This is (that servant) who being faithful unto the lord would be made “ruler over all that he hath.” I like the word (if) in this account. Because, it shows even a faithful servant can come to a place “in their heart” to neglect his relationship with the lord. That usually means he stops looking for his lord’s return first, then becomes an unwise steward. Anythings possible when that happens to this former faithful and wise steward. Attitudes change, habits take over, and drunkenness makes this guy look like he doesn’t belong to the Lord. Jesus said, “ 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 ..” (Luke 12:46) Just a reminder. This is the same servant who was considered faithful and wise, who could choose to be unfaithful and self serving, and who then disbelieves the lord’s coming back to be important. There’s no sense of accountability for his actions and attitudes. What does this servant get in “due season?” Jesus said this servant will be “cut asunder” and will be appointed “his portion with the unbelievers.” (vs 46) The unbelievers in this context are not those who are lost going to hell because they don’t believe the gospel of salvation. This is a servant who could either be faithful or unfaithful in his life or walk. If any teacher of the Word would diminish the importance of our judgment and make it just a “good ole boy” gathering, then what Jesus is about to say concerning His servant should change thinking on what it means to “receive for the bad” in our walk.(2Cor.5:10)(Col.3:25)Jesus said, this servant will be cut off. And, he’ll have company with others in the household of God. There is something else to consider besides just being separated from getting what he could have had for being faithful and wise, and the right to rule “over all that he hath.” Jesus said (that servant) would be beaten with many stripes “which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will.” (vs 47) Beaten? However you look at this, it isn’t good. It’s punishment. It’s correction. It’s chastisement. Jesus is giving the faithful, wise, steward a warning. (If) you choose to ignore that I am coming back, (if) you decide to walk in your own ways and sin against the will of the lord, you will be held accountable and judged. Paul said the same thing to believers in Romans. He’s telling us, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, (if) thou continue in his goodness: OTHERWISE thou also shalt be cut off.” (Rom.11:22) Is Jesus and Paul talking about losing eternal life? And, if they are not speaking in these terms, what is going on with the distinctions being made between faithful and unfaithful servants? This shows at the Bema, fellow-servants, faithful and unfaithful are there. Both there, imply that both are saved. What Jesus says does not imply one is saved and the other is lost. So, what does it mean to be “cut asunder” at the Bema Seat of Christ. Does it mean a servant can be saved and then lose their salvation at the Bema for being unfaithful and disobedient? I think it is important we understand what the unfaithful servant/believer suffers loss of and yet the truth of the Gospel is not invalidated. There is minimal teaching in the pulpit today, almost no teaching, of the next age to come. The next age to come is the literal reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, for 1000 years, when He comes back to rule and reign as promised to Israel. This is where the servant who knew his lord’s will, who instead walked away from being faithful and wise, will see the rubber meet the road when judged. Although saved, possessing eternal life, the servant could see death to things that have to do with our walk, given for faithfulness in our service or walk. The believer is guaranteed eternal life. The death we could experience has to do with the right to rule and reign with the Lord during the next age to come. Cutting asunder at the Bema has to do with suffering loss of the right to rule and reign with the Lord in the next age to come. Jesus said this. “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, AND in the world to come life everlasting.” (Luke 18:29-30) For brethren that believe a Christian can lose their salvation, it’s not about losing salvation. It’s about losing the right to rule and reign with the Lord in the next age to come. For brethren who believe in OSAS, it is about losing the right to rule and reign in the next age to come. When we separate birth into the family of God, which is of God, from truth about our walk in Christ, and focus on His return and truths for service, we understand why our judgment at the Bema, is all about the next age to come. The next age to come is the literal ruling and reigning of the Lord Jesus on this earth. It deals in time for 1000 years. That’s a long, long time, to know why a believer couldn’t enjoy this opportunity. It’s a long, long time to be sorrowful and shed tears knowing we gave up the right to rule and reign because we failed to keep Jesus in focus and serve Him faithfully in our lives now. Saved for all eternity from a devil’s hell, but potentially suffering loss at the Bema of the right to rule and reign with the Lord in His kingdom yet to come.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 21:26:55 +0000
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