The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

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. Truly I tell you, 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 other servants, both men and women, 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. “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. 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.

This seemingly violent telling of a theoretical manager who oversees some servants is another example of Jesus using common cultural elements that were relatable to his audience in order to better communicate a point. The manager had been entrusted with the responsibility to care for the master’s servants. In the first instance, he acts faithfully and wise. He attends to the needs of others, and he fulfills his duties with diligence and integrity. In the second instance, he acts from a place of neglect and complacency. He is inviting us into the responsibility for building and tending to the kin-dom. This responsibility comes as we learn how to surrender more to God in faith. The more we live out our faith the more responsibility we receive to tending to God’s kin-dom.

Q. We see in verses 47-48 that leaders will also be asked to do much more. Would you risk being a leader? Why/why not?

God, grant me the wisdom to be faithful and wise, to steward the blessings and responsibilities You have given me. May I use our resources for the well-being of others and Your glory. Help me to be vigilant, knowing that I am accountable for the entrusted gifts.

Amen.