Luke 12:42-48: Responsibility

Luke 12:42-48: Responsibility

Luke 12:48 says that "whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

The parable where this verse is located can be located in Luke 12:41-48.  It has to do with being prepared for the Lord's return and working for Him until He comes.  You can also interpret it as using God's gifts in a responsible way and learning to be a "faithful and wise steward" (verse 42).  The better you handle the responsibility, the more God may bless you.  Yet, if you waste the talents or misuse them, you may be punished.

Those that are given a lot of responsibility such as with a leadership position, much will be expected of them.  You will be held to a higher standard if you want to be the one in charge.  If you want to be the one giving the orders and, in some cases, even responsible for physical or spiritual lives, you cannot be a hypocrite and you need to practice what you preach.   In other words, you must lead with a moral example.  You will be accountable to God if you are dictatorial, stingy, unfair, or cruel, be it in the workplace, home, and especially in a spiritual or political position. 

If you are given much money, you are expected to be generous as well as frugal and responsible.  God does not fault us having nice things, but He is very displeased with those who spend their money on items of vanity and excessive unnecessary items rather than help the poor and needy.  How many hurting people could you support through a charity with the expensive jewelry, makeup/hair products, clothing, luxury items, electronics, etc., you waste money on each month? 

Another way to look at this verse is in the area of talent. The parable states that the Lord wants to "find" us using our talents for His glory when He comes.  If God has granted you with talent, no matter how big or small, you should use it for His glory and not to promote the world or yourself.  Be responsible by not using your gifts to glorify immoral behaviors you know go against the Bible.  In other words, if you have a talent for artwork, paint pictures glorifying the Lord and His creation, not sexualized, violent, or occult images.  If you can write, write stories or poems that show God at the center, not smut, murder mysteries that glorify death and violence, or stories about witchcraft.  If you have musical ability, use it to praise the Lord.  It is a huge pet peeve of mine when "Christian" artists sing cross-over music that promotes sex outside if marriage, drinking, have swear words in them, or have no message at all.  If God is gracious enough to bless you with an ability, why give that gift to the world and not back to the One who gave it to you? No matter how small you may think your talent is, don't refuse to share it with others and be willing to lift the name of Jesus high!

If God trusts you enough to bless you as a leader, with finances, and/or with talent, honor Him by treating your responsibility with wisdom, morality, and integrity.

(Luke 12:42-48) And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath."

"But and if that servant say in his heart,' My lord delayeth his coming'; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."