"A Warning Regarding the Second Coming"

by Pastor Ron Vandermey on 11/30/12
www.mybethanybible.org

Matthew 24:45-51: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you tht he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if tht evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and he begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eaat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Responsibility to live for God and witness for Christ while waiting and watching for His appearing is what is stressed in the closing verses of the chapter. It is a great responsibility to be put in trust with any measure of divine truth. What is given is not for our own information alone but to be passed on to others.

I Corinthians 4:2 states: It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." Those to whom the Lord has made known His purpose and counsels are therefore called upon to act as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, sharing with the household of faith the spiritual food for their encouragement and edification. The servant who fulfils his responsibilities along this line will be duly rewarded in the day of manifestation. But if you have trifled with the truth, and had an over-bearing spirit, then you will have to face the judge at an unexpected hour, and will be given their portion with the hypocrites. This is not a true child of God, but one who will be judged according to the profession he has made.

The evil servant is thus an unbeliever who refuses to take seriously the promise of Christ's return. We see in this parable that every person is accountable to Christ for the stewardship of his life. Everyone has been given natural abilities, wealth, and possessions, in trust from God and must give account of how these things are used. Thus, Christ ends The Olivet Discourse on a sobering, yet important, thought.