AM I RESPONSIBLE?

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Luke 12:42-48

42The 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? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But 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. 46The 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.

47″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. 48But 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.

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1. There are two types of servants in this parable. One is faithful in doing his master’s will, and the other is not. The other thinks his master is taking a long time and he goes off and parties and neglects and beats the other servants.
2. My leaders have entrusted me to do my work faithfully and enthusiastically. With the trust, I have room for improvement. Sometimes I forget about certain people I need to care about and things that need to be taken care of. I want to practice better time management, organization and initiative, as well as never departing from the Lord – remembering that HE is my source of strength and reason why I do what I do.
3. I do not want my motivation for fulfilling my responsibilities to be to please man. I want to always remember that it is for God and to bless His people as well. If I have any envy, annoyance, impatience, a belitteling attitude or bitterness I want to purge myself of those things so I can have a pure heart before the Lord. I need to remember that everything I do is purposeful.

Renew a Commitment That Started to Fade

Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 >>
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

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Comments:

Peter’s commitment to God was enthusiastic, but he perhaps was afraid and denied Jesus three times. Perhaps he was caught up in the moment and let his emotions take over. Perhaps he was disappointed. In either case, we should not let our circumstances, place and situation dictate our level of commitment. We should be wise in how we express it, but not be ashamed of God ever.

Faithful in Words (2)

1 Kings 8:56
56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

Proverbs 6:1-5
Warnings Against Folly
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

2 if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3 then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

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1. God is so faithful in His Words. He is His Word, and His Word is ever true. What He says does come to pass. But thank You God for your mercy.

2. When I’m trapped in bad words or made promises I cannot keep, I should “beg to have (my) name erased.” I should swallow my pride and ask for their mercy.

Faithful in Words

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Stand in Awe of God
1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.

3 As a dream comes when there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

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It’s interesting because I’ve read the Bible many times growing up as a Christian, yet this passage feels like it’s the first time I’m reading it! It feels so fresh and new- exactly what my soul needs right now.

It talks about how I need to think through and wisely consider everything before I speak (Ecc 5:1-5) because sometimes we say dumb things just to impress but we do not say it wholeheartedly, and thus they are rash, hasty promises, and God does not care for mindless offerings. It just makes us look like a fool.

Instead, I should come to the Lord always with ears open and heart towards Him. I should just “let (my) words be few,” because it’s better “to say nothing than to make a promise and ot keep it (v.5). It says “talk is cheap (v.7)” and to “fear God instead (v.7).”

Learn to Be Faithful in Little Things (2)

Luke 19:12-20,
12He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a]‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

14″But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15″He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16″The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17″ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18″The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19″His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20″Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.

Matthew 25:23

1. Some people who have been entrusted with little responsibilities fail to do them sometimes because they don’t have the mindset or habits set up to do them. Or maybe they fear failure. Or maybe they are just lazy and want things handed to them. I’m not sure, it could be. Or maybe they get stressed out easily and need to chillax. Or sometimes they procrastinate which is just a bad habit they should work to change.
2. After meditating on God’s Word today, the kind of attitude/mentality I want to have in treating and carrying out tasks that may look insignificant is to prioritize and try to please my master, God…I want to win over His heart!

Learn to Be Faithful in Little Things

Luke 16:10-14,
10″Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13″No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

Matthew 25:21
21″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

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1. I think those things that are considered little in my life are those things that people don’t see – for example, doing my devotions or how my personal time is with God–or things like being kind to other people or doing small responsibilities my parents have asked me to help them with. It’s also humbling myself in issues of offense and forgiveness.
2. I should treat things that belong to others that have been entrusted in my care as if it were my own, or maybe even better, lol. I want to make a commitment to treat it with quality care, including tasks and responsibilities.

Faithfulness is Demanded

Luke 12:42-48

42The 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? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But 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. 46The 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.

 

 47″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. 48But 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.

 

–

 

1. The characteristics of a faithful person is that they fulfill their responsibility no matter whether or not anybody is there watching. They are faithful and true even when the master is not there. In this case, it’s even though we don’t know when Jesus is returning. This servant is steadfast in doing what they do and I believe wholeheartedly.  

2. It is important to be a faithful follower of Christ because God demands and expects nothing less. And also, because it is our duty and our right to be able to do so. 

3. I think I can be better at carrying out my responsibilities when nobody is looking. I want to make a new commitment to do God’s will.

Learn from God’s Faithfulness

1 Thes 5:24,
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

1 Cor 1:9,
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 145:13,
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.[a]

Phil 1:6,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Jeremiah 31:3
3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:

“ Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
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1. I have experienced God’s faithfulness in my life. He has kept all His promises. I feel and see His love, mercy and favor in my life. I have good friends and people who care about me that God’s provided, and He speaks to me and His Holy Spirit guides me to keep me on the right path.
2. Jesus asked us not be be dismayed because He loves us with an everlasting love, and He keeps His promises and will continue His work in us until it is done.

Becoming a Trustworthy Person (3)

Genesis 39:20-23
20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Proverbs 28:20
20 A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

1. When Joseph carried out his responsibilities rightfully, to be a faithful and trustworthy person before God and the people he served, he experienced great success. The Lord was with him.
2. Joseph still gave top quality work, even though he experienced unfair treatment to the point that he was demoted from his rank/position unjustifiably. The Bible makes no mention of him complaining, although I’m sure it must have hurt to be treated like that.
3. From today’s reading, I learn that faithfulness is looked upon with blessing from the Lord, while being eager to get rich will be punished, maybe because the motivation is wrong – selfish perhaps? Anyways, all I remember is do all things as if to God and not to man. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly because you love Him and the things He loves, not because you want the blessing. Ironically, when you do this, He will bless you greatly although that’s not what you’re pursuing. You’re pursuing Him. So it’s a win-win situation.

Becoming a Trustworthy Person

Matthew 25:14-23
1 Corinthians 4:1-2

1. The characteristics of a trusted person in Matthew 25:23 is that they were faithful even with a few things, so they were entrusted with even more things. They didn’t take little things for granted and valued those little things.
2. Some responsibilities entrusted to me as a child, parent, husband, wife, church worker and employee is that I’m trusted to be back at a reasonable time at home, I’m trusted to set a good example to my younger brother and those in my church who are younger than me, I’m entrusted to come on time to work and church and serve/work with heart and giving my best. =)
3. After meditating on God’s Word today, the commitment I want to make to increase the quality of my character as God’s trustworthy servant is to really think things through rather than doing things impulsively, knowing that our actions have consequences and may create a ripple effect. I will try to make wiser decisions, involving the Lord in my everyday decision making.