“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 25:13
Dear Ones:
There were many themes, and subjects, which the Lord Jesus taught on. As He was approaching the moment of His departure, His crucifixion and resurrection, there is one subject that He brought before the disciples, and which is very applicable today. It is that of readiness, not only a preparedness of mind and heart, in that one is looking for Christ’s coming, or to that moment of going to be with Him, but also, of a way of life, a mentality of living and serving. On the one hand there is the “readiness” of right standing with God. On the other, there is the “right” relationship of walking and communing with God, living in the light of His presence, responding to the overtures of His leading in the life.
In the parable of the Ten Virgins, the Lord brings clearly before us the imperative of “right standing” with God. By the attitude and actions of five of these virgins, who were “supposed” to be waiting for the bridegroom, we find at his coming at midnight that He did not know them, as their intent was not truly to know Him. Their unpreparedness, represented by their lack of providing oil for their lamps, revealed a basic attitude of heart, one of self-centeredness, and not that of living for the Beloved.
In another parable, we see a two-fold message concerning readiness. The Lord Jesus again deals with the issue of truly belonging to Him because of a very clearly revealed attitude of heart. A “servant” of which He spoke, who received one talent (a monetary measurement) , did not act on his Master’s behalf, and use that which was given him for the sake and benefit of his master. Again, we find a basic attitude of selfishness, self-centeredness, which “feared” the master, and which was only concerned for the servant’s own survival. On the other hand, we see that those individuals who were given other different amount of talents, went and used them because they had understood the intent of the Master in entrusting the talents to them. These servants lived in the present moment, using both time, resources, and opportunity, to faithfully and wisely, gain more talents than those entrusted to them. This was done FOR the Master, and not for themselves. What are the lessons which we are to understand here with regard to “readiness?”
The first lesson is that “readiness” begins with BELONGING to Christ, having chosen to live by faith. How can one be ready to meet Christ, if one is not rightly related to Him according to God’s ways? If one is not willing to submit himself, by the grace of God, to the Lordship of his Master, to live for Him and no longer for self, how can one even begin to live in the present moment to serve the Master effectively?
The second lesson to be grasped is this: The one who is rightly related to God, and the Lord Jesus, is that one who is seeking Him in the present moment, to KNOW Him, to intelligently serve Him, with the resources that God has provided, according to the opportunity afforded him. There is no fear in love, and this servant is living to serve, because He lives to love Christ. The Master may have entrusted him with physical “talents,” but of greater and more lasting value, are the “means” by the Spirit, which makes all things possible in this life of service for Christ. If the servant is to be faithful and wise, he must see that all has been provided by the Master, by the Spirit, for its accomplishment. It is for this reason that Paul would write: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that He counted me faithful.” (1 Tim. 1:12) Our faithfulness is derived from the perfect faithfulness of Christ.
Dear Father, give us to be rightly related to You, and the Lord Jesus, in fellowship, by the Spirit. Enable us to be faithful today, as we live to serve Thee, waiting for Thy Son’s coming from heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad