35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they
may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh
shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and
make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the
third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known
what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered
his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at
an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:35-40)
The
Collect
Sixth
Sunday after Trinity
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O
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GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such
good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward
thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which
exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
This
parable of the Watchful Servant bears striking similarities to other of the
parables, but is distinctly difference in certain important respects. The
preceding verses shed much light on the full meaning of the parable, so I shall
quote them in the course of this devotion. The parable defies the
distortions and black lies of pundits and false ministers who claim to have
discovered the time and moment of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
else there would be no need to be watchful. The parable reveals how the
faithful Christian is to deport himself in waiting upon the Lord to return –
not by speculation and fantasy, but by a determined steadfastness to the will
of God at all times so that the Lord will find him doing that which is
pleasing. Our hope and salvation does not rest upon the certain date of
Christ's return for we are saved already who are recipients of His magnanimous
grace, so why do men go to the trouble to climb the tree to tell a lie when
they might much more easily stand flat-footed on the ground and speak the
truth? I have books in my library that twenty years ago were the source of much
revenue to their writer. He claimed to have determined the EXACT date and even
minute of Christ's return. I read an article from the Los Angeles Times that
told of a woman who had an abortion so that she might be all the more easily
`raptured.' What egregious wickedness such men must answer for at the true time
of Christ's return, as the thousands of souls who have listened to that wicked
voice in deception of God's Word.
As an
introductory sequence to the parable, our Lord confirms to us the inordinate
care and love the Father harbors for His Elect.
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they
spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these. 28 If then God so
clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the
oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall
drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For
all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father
knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these
things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give
alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also. (Luke 12:27-34) In these beautiful
verses, Jesus informs us of proper perspective and expectation in loving and
serving God. All that we can possibly need – all that is of benefit and essence
for our souls – will be provided us by God if we place our priority on seeking
Him. The matter cannot be reversed. We cannot be imbued with favor and blessing
by first seeking the desires of our hearts. We must first make the Kingdom of
God the desire of our hearts, and then God shall reciprocate in unimaginable
generosity to us.
Your heart will ALWAYS be where your treasure is. If your treasure is in the
Kingdom of God, so shall your heart be there.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.
The long, outer garments and robes were girded up for work, travel, or battle.
The meaning is clear. We must be ready at all times for the return of our Lord –
not speculating needlessly on a certain day. The Gospel is not spread abroad in
short burst of light, but by the continual burning of that bright light of
faith that distinguishes the Christian from the unbeliever. We must keep our
lights CONTINUALLY burning. Remember the Ten Virgins: five had their lamps
burning with the Oil of the Holy Spirit, and five gave out of Oil. The latter
five were rejected at the door to the Wedding Feast.
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord,
when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they
may open unto him immediately. After the wedding comes
the feast, but we must be ready at the time of the Masters coming if we will be
partakers in His joy. Too many of modern men are effeminate wonders of
`capricious irresolution.' We are commanded to be men and not wimps by counsel
of Scripture: Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be
strong. (1 Cor 16:13) And true men are not only resolute, watchful, and
strong. They are also charitable: Let all your things be done with
charity. (1 Cor 16:14) If we are immovable in faith and action, we
shall be received at the time of His Coming.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord
when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Yes,
it is the Lord's Banquet which shall be made for these loyal men and women who
persevere in faith always. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be
well-attended by such Christians. But those Christians whose light have faded
and blown shall be turned away at the door once found.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in
the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. He
may come very, very late – later than we anticipate. The second watch of the
night begins at 9 PM and ends at Midnight. The third watch may be even more
surprising if our eyelids are heavy with sleep. The third watch is from
Midnight to 3 AM! Though we may slumber or sleep, we shall gain favor is our
wicks are trimmed, our lamps are oiled, and our fires are burning.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had
known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have
suffered his house to be broken through. The
Lord is certainly no thief, but the opposite thereof. However, His Coming will
be as a thief in the night to those whose souls are not in continual
preparedness. They will lose all as if taken by the connivance of a thief
unexpected. Isn't the better way to study and be prepared every day for an
examination rather than being exposed as a dunce by a spot quiz?
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at
an hour when ye think not. We find in this last verse no
speculation at all, but certain truth! We must be ready at all times for He
will DEFINITELY come at an hour we do not expect. All those superficial dates
conjured up by money grubbers and false prophets are the very days we can be
certain that Christ will not come. For all we know, Christ may come for any one
of us this very hour – on the highway, in the hospital bed, or in a hundred
different places today tomorrow, of the days following. Are you ready?
