A FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. It should be the desire of every Christian to be a faithful and
      wise servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
   B. Let us carefully examine the Lord's teaching regarding servants
      in Matt. 24:44-51.

I. FIRST, LET'S CONSIDER THE EVIL, UNPROFITABLE SERVANT.  Matt.       
   24:47-49
   A. He was presumptuous - He said in his heart, "...My master is
      delaying his coming."
      1. This servant was presumptuous in thinking that he had plenty
         of time.
      2. Satan causes people to think they have all the time in the
         world to make things right with God.
         a. This present moment is the right time to make oneself
            acceptable to the Lord.  2 Cor. 6:2
   B. He was abusive - "...And begins to beat his fellow servants..."
      1. This can be applied to abusive actions of some who bite and
         devour others.  Gal. 5:15
         a. It is certainly not the loving attitude taught by Christ.
      2. Christians often forget they are on the same team, striving
         toward the same cause and purpose.
         a. Let us do our best to work together in love.  1 Pet.
            1:22; 4:8; Col. 3:14
   C. He began to walk in the ways of the world - "...Began to eat   
      and drink with the drunkards." 
      1. Many want to go in the way of the world: drinking parties,
         cursing, committing fornication, and the like.
         a. Regarding morals, our whole nation seems to be on a
            rapid spiral downward.
      2. God's view of a Christian turning back to the world, is like
         a dog returning to his own vomit.  2 Pet. 2:20-22
   D. The severe judgment of eternal damnation will be given to this
      servant.  Matt. 24:50-51
      1. The judgment will be unexpected - when he least expects it.
      2. The judgment will be severe - "will cut him in two."  "On
         whomever the stone falls, it will grind him to powder." 
         Matt. 21:44
      3. The judgment will be the same as on other evil people  -
         "appoint him his portion with the hypocrites."
      4. The judgment will be grievous and forever. - "There shall be
         weeping and gnashing of teeth" - The Lord often added,
         "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

II. NEXT, CONSIDER WHAT JESUS TAUGHT REGARDING THE FAITHFUL AND WISE 
   SERVANT.
   A. First of all, he has been appointed by his master.  Matt.      
      24:45a
      1. A wise and faithful servant realizes that His Master has
         appointed him to be a servant.
         a. When we choose to be servants by thus obeying the
            Lord, the Lord Himself makes us His servants.  
         b. If we do not make this choice, we are servants of the
            devil, slaves of sin.  John 8:34-35; Rom. 6:16
         c. We must be masters of ourselves to be servants of the
            Lord.
         d. It is a great honor to be a servant of the Lord.
   B. His master made him ruler over his household to give them food
      in due season.  Matt. 24:45b
      1. Adam Clark said regarding the term "due season" - He must
         give the domestics - the sacred family, their food; and this
         food must be such as to afford them true nourishment. This
         must be done in its season! There are certain portions of   
         the bread of life which lose their effect by being          
         administered out of proper season, or to improper persons."
         a. We all are to exhort one another (dispense the spiritual
            food for the soul).  Heb. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11; Eph. 4:16
            (1) Becoming the first man to climb Mt. Everest
                proved to be a dangerous adventure for Sir
                Edmund Hillary. After scaling the mountain,
                Hillary lost his footing on the way down. His
                guide, Tenzing Norgay, held the line taut and kept
                Hillary from falling by digging his axe into the ice.
                Norgay later refused special credit for saving
                Hillary's life by saying, "Mountain climbers always
                help each other."
            (2) Members of the body of Christ likewise "always
                help each other."  Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11
   C. Jesus said, "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he
      comes, will find so doing."  Matt. 24:46
      1. Not knowing when the master was returning, he had to be
         vigilant. He had to persevere in doing what was expected of
         him.
      2. The lesson here is the same as taught from that of the "door
         keeper."  Mark 13:33-37
      3. Thus, the Lord, through His parables, taught us to be       
         vigilant and persevere in our service to Him.  1 Pet. 5:8;  
         Rom. 2:7-9; Heb. 10:35-39
   D. Great reward will be given to the faithful servants -          
      "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all  
      his goods."  Matt. 24:47
      1. Luke's account showed that the Lord of the faithful servant
         will take the place of the servant himself.  Luke 12:35-37
         a. This means that if we remain faithful, the Lord will
            receive us into heaven, and let us share in all of His
            glorious blessings.  Rev. 2:26-28; 3:21
      2. Great honor and glory will be given to those who first learn
         to serve in the lesser role.
         a. For example, we need to be faithful in the simple basics
            of Christianity - attendance, prayer, Bible study,       
            visiting, teaching.
         b. Consider these examples:
            (1) If your car started one out of three times, would
                you consider it faithful?
            (2) If your refrigerator quit a day now and then,
                would you excuse it and say, "It works most of the
                time"?
            (3) If you miss a couple of mortgage payments each
                year, are you faithful?
            (4) If you showed up late for work once in a while or
                just skipped a day now and then, does your
                employer consider you faithful?
      3. Our Lord's parables regarding servants teach faithful       
         service.
         a. In a recent survey of 287 college students, nearly all of
            them expressed a desire for greatness; yet, very few
            perceived any connection between greatness and
            service.  Matt. 20:26-28
         b. Jesus exemplified humble service by washing the
            disciples' feet.  John 13:13-15

Concl.
   A. Consider, again, the Lord's own application: "Blessed is that
      servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing."
   B. The meaning of life is not how long we live, how famous we
      become, or how rich we might be.
   C. The author is unknown to this simple little poem:
         You may be an ambassador to England or France;
         You may like to gamble, or you might like to dance;
         You may have beauty with long hair and curls;
         You may have riches with long strings of pearls;
         There is someone your service is geared toward,
         Is it the devil, or is it the Lord?
   D. In 1762, Charles Wesley (brother of John Wesley) wrote this
      inspiring hymn:
         A charge to keep I have, 
         A God to glorify;
         A never-dying soul to save, 
         And fit it for the sky. 
         To serve the present age, 
         My calling to fulfill; 
         O may it all my powers engage, 
         To do my Master's will!
         Help me to watch and pray,
         And on Thy-self rely,
         Assured if I my trust betray,
         I shall forever die.
   E. Let us do our very best to be faithful and wise servants of the
      Lord, Jesus Christ.