Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 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. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Luke 12:41-44 (NIV)
On my desktop screen is a daily calendar that vividly proclaims the various tasks I have listed as important to achieve. Each task is tied to a goal which in turn is tied to a purpose or at least a deadline. Often while reviewing my purposes and responsibilities, I fall into a state of uncertainty about what is the next task that has the most priority. Inevitably, I ring heaven’s bells and ask God to give me clarity in direction.
At such a time, it is easy to lean back in my chair and fantasize about Peter at Joppa (Acts 10:20). God spoke clearly to him and gave him specific instructions about what to do next. And then there is Ananias (Acts 9:10). God gave him clear, distinct instructions to go to the home of Judas on Straight Street there in Damascus. And Ananias would find Saul of Tarsus there in deep, repentant prayer and fasting waiting for him to come and open his eyes. And even in Saul’s state of confused blindness, he has been specifically told that a man named Ananias will come and restore his sight. And I cry out, “O God, tell me what to do next!” And the Holy Spirit floods my mind with this specific instruction: “Use your mind!”
Of course, He doesn’t need to explain. I know that he has given me a purpose and the responsibility to achieve it. If I needed specific, minute-by-minute hand-holding, then He would have probably chosen someone else for the job. He has more confidence in me than I do. But I know how to analyze the responsibility and the purpose. I know how to set goals that will challenge me to move toward achievement. I know how to break those goals into intermediate objectives; and the objectives into short-term tasks. Now, this not arrogant intellectualism spouting off! I know how to do this analysis and planning, because He gave me a mind and the knowledge for such things or at least how to learn such things.
Read today’s passage again. The master places faithful and wise individuals in charge of his purposes. The master simply expects to find the faithful and wise servant working at the task when He returns to evaluate the results. We may conclude, however, that just any old activity is NOT sufficient. No! The inferred understanding is that the task must be related to an objective that is related to a goal that is directly tied to the purpose for which the faithful, wise servant was chosen (i.e., feeding the master’s other servants). But the individual task for getting the job done has been left to the faithful, wise servant’s discretion.
Dear Father, thank you for choosing us as your servants. Empower us with knowledge and ability to choose tasks that faithfully relate to your purposes, for which you have called us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as a faithful and wise servant,