We pick this up in Luke 12:42-48.

And the Lord said: Who is, then, the faithful and prudent steward, whom his master will put over his house, so that he may give them their ration of food in due season? Blessed is the servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will make him ruler over all that he has. (Luke 12:42-44)

Many of Jesus’ parables speak of honor and reward. Jesus is a rewarder of people who do good work for Him. Some people would say that we are all equal in the Kingdom and that God favors no one person over another. This is true. We are all saved by the grace of God. We are all saved through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on Calvary. But it seems that the Lord was saying here that those who have been faithful on earth, those who have been wise, those who have wisely used what was entrusted to them on earth in the Kingdom of God, are going to be rewarded and to become lords over many other people and things.

As an example, let’s take Sydney, Australia. We need a ruler over the whole city. But it is made up of many towns and each of the towns could use a Mayor. Then, there are different functions in each of the towns. There are managers of water, managers of electricity and managers of education. There are different positions within the town, so there are many levels of responsibility in the society in which we live.

Granted that Jesus Christ is going to rule on earth for a thousand years, there will be many leadership positions in the new Kingdom. He is going to have people who are faithful to him in leadership positions. If he gets someone to run all the towns in the city of Sydney, he has to be someone with good management experience.

Often people look at their life on earth and wonder if they will use it in heaven. People work at jobs they love and cannot imagine doing any other type of work. This could be true. When you work on earth, you can do that work in heaven. Jesus was hinting at this. He said that he will make you rule over many things if you are faithful.

There are many positions to take; positions available to the average person. Not all of them will really apply on earth. Not everyone will live up to the potential that God has established for his people on earth.

Jesus is not a tough taskmaster. He is a very encouraging person. He is a person who allows you to develop your gifts naturally and then gives you more practical experience until you become proficient. Jesus is a person who promotes people through levels of authority. Not only will there be promotion in the coming Kingdom when Jesus reigns on earth, but there will be promotion in the Kingdom for those on earth today who prove themselves worthy. Some people prove they are wise stewards of God’s money, resources, time, and talents on earth. This is not just something for the future. If you look at people like Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Joseph Prince, and other preachers, you will find that they have been promoted to television ministries, book writing ministries, tape and CD ministries, and large convention ministries. They have great and powerful ministries on earth today. They have been promoted and given much glory and power in the world today.

These parables do not have to be in the future tense. Jesus preached the parables for a few reasons, as a promise of what will happen in the future, but also as a practical, day-to-day experience. I hope you are grasping the practical application of this parable today.

But if that servant says in his heart: ‘My lord is delaying in coming’, and begins to beat the servants and the maidservants, and to eat and to get drunk, the lord of that servant will come on a day that he does not see. for him, and at the moment when he does not notice, and will break him in two and supplement the portion of him with the unbelievers. And that servant who, knowing the will of his master, and did not prepare or do according to his will, will receive many lashes. But the one who did not know, but he committed things that served as lashes, he will be lashed with few. For from everyone to whom much is given, much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, they will ask for more. (Luke 12:45-48)

I have to say in conclusion, this being the last parable, that all lashes are avoidable. Growing up, as a child, you knew that your father or mother might tell you, if you come home after 11:00, there will be a beating. If you steal any of the cookies from the jar that are for our visitors today, I’ll beat the crap out of you. As you grew, you were given definite boundaries. And at times when you get into trouble, you get hit on a leash. You as a kid don’t have to get that leash. You don’t have to take that beating. You can avoid the beating by doing what your mother or father says.

So also with this parable; I believe that a Christian does not need to take a beating on Jesus Christ. But I know that there is punishment for people who are in this world doing things that are not pleasant. People who use and abuse others to get rich, people who get drunk, people who do all kinds of bad things in this world, will one day be punished in a place called hell.

But everyone has an opportunity to get to know Jesus and do things the right way. I’m not saying that Christians always do things the right way. But the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that they have a forgiving God. He has a God who can guide him.

The application of this last passage can be summarized in this: To those who have been given much opportunity, much would be expected of them; to whom little opportunity has been given, much less will be expected of such people. Like a mother and father, these stripes can be avoided. Our legal system has these consequences. But some people seem to beat the legal system and don’t end up punished on this earth. Well, believe me, if you don’t confess Jesus and give his life to Him, there would be punishment in a place to come for all the evil that has been done on earth.

I hope you have enjoyed this book of parables. God bless you. I pray that you write to me, post me a comment or ask me a question. God bless you. Bye bye.