Matthew 24:45-51 – It pays to be faithful

This master and the servant in this parable again is certainly about God and Israel. It’s about God giving Israel a task to do and His assessment of their performance. From the perspective of Jesus’s Olivet dissertation, this parable is also about Him assigning the disciples with work to do. It’s about the necessity to declare the Gospel to the nations. Some will be assigned tasks to do in the young and struggling new community. How will they discharge their responsibilities?  

This parable provides contrast for two kinds of slaves. One is faithful and wise and obediently went about the task given by the master in His absence. The faithful and wise servant’s primary concern was not when the master would return. His primary concern was to diligently fulfil the task that he had been assigned and he was found to be faithfully discharging his duties. Having been proven trustworthy, he was delegated even greater responsibility. He was trusted with the position of managing all the master’s possessions. Faithful service to the Lord will always open new door to greater opportunities to serve.

In the absence of the master, one could also choose not to be faithful to one’s duties. Instead of serving the master’s interest, one could serve only one’s personal interests and needs. This is where he is contrasted with the faithful one. This wicked servant interpreted the absence of the master as an opportunity to take advantage of others for personal gain. Not only did he not serve others, he also totally disobeyed the master’s instruction. He used the occasion to abuse others and engage in revelry. The delay of the master should have motivated him to seize the opportunity to prove His faithfulness. A genuine responsible steward is one who faithfully discharges his duties even in the absence of his supervisor. He not only faithfully discharges his responsibilities, at the same time also displays sound and moral ethics.

In this parable, the emphasis was not that the master had gone away too long but that he returned too soon and caught the unexpected wicked servant by surprise. The master then punished the irresponsible servant severely and banished him, cut-off from the community. He was justly punished for his hypocritical conduct.      

As Christians living in times of uncertainties, this parable serves to remind us to remain faithful and loyal to Christ. God does not expect perfection, for He knows perfectly well that we are imperfect creatures. But He expects us to make the necessary adjustments and take steps to move in the right direction when we realize that we are going in the wrong way. We must not abuse the grace of God and use it as a cover-up for doing wrong. We must remember that to us much is given and much is required of us.