Integrity

 Luke 12: 39-48

The Faithful and Wise Manager

³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

⁴² 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? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ 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. ⁴⁶ 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.

⁴⁷ “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. ⁴⁸ 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.

Jesus calls us to a fidelity that does not depend on "being watched" as little children, but as trusted adults who will be faithful to who we are and to what he expects of us.  When the "Master's" back is turned, yes, we could easily slack off, or lay down our guard and revert to childish or immature behavior, but in a love relationship of trust, whether the boss is looking or not, we still work and behave as diligently as we would if he or she were standing over our shoulders. We have been given much, blessed with the gift of integrity, and know what God expects of us, so let's JUST DO IT whether we FEEL his Presence or not. 

Bro. Rene