Luke 12:42-43 (ESV) And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
In this story that Jesus tells, the master is Jesus and believers are like the manager. The manager is supposed to server the master when he is away. He serves by helping others, here illustrated by feeding the household. When the master, Jesus returns and find the manager doing what he as instructed to do, the manager will be blessed.
Luke 12:45-46 (ESV) But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
But if the manager, who is a servant of the master, treats others violently, gets drunk and does not fulfill his duties, something else will happen when the master returns. You see the master, that is Jesus, will return on a day and hour in which he is not expected. Jesus’ return will be a surprise visit for everyone. When Jesus returns, there will be no time to repent. What Jesus finds will determine a person’s eternity. In the story, the punishment of the servant is cutting into pieces and putting with the other unbelievers. This is simply another description of being sent to hell. Two other scenarios and described by Jesus.
Luke 12:47 (ESV) And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.
What’s this all about? This verse describes the different levels of punishment in hell. Hell is eternal for everyone, an existence apart from God forever. Yet, within hell, there are different levels of torment. Those believers who knew what they should do, but don’t do it, receive a severe punishment, less than being cut to pieces. Those who didn’t know what they should do but did wrong will receive a lesser punishment. When you understand the times, you will be ready for Jesus’ return.
Do you understand the gravity of what Jesus is saying here? You could serve God well in life for awhile, but then you decide it’s too much bother. Maybe, you’ll just take a break for awhile and enjoy some sin. And when Jesus returns and discovers you in sin, it’s too late to repent. All the good you did in life was forfeited by not being ready for Jesus’ return.
And the same could happen if you meet Jesus through death. Not everyone has a chance to repent before dying, so you must be ready to meet Jesus. One day everyone will face God’s judgement. Those believers who continued to serve Jesus throughout life, will be judged for their degree of reward in heaven. Those unbelievers who didn’t serve Jesus will be judged for their degree of punishment in hell. Be ready for Jesus’ return every day.