35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 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?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 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;
46 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.
47 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.
48 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.
Luke 12:35-48 (KJV)
Being detached from the passion, that should motivate us in whatever duty or responsibly we are given and, with a lack of motivation, to change it. Our efforts lack drive, desire, or meaning or genuineness. Going through the motions is a spiritual challenge we must all face. Many Biblical characters struggled with going through the motions.
- Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3)
They were busy in service but not according to God’s plan. - King Saul (1 Samuel 13:7-10)
- The Disciples
- The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-35)
- The Church at Corinth
There are a number of warning signs for going through the motions of faithful service and a number of characteristics present in faithful servants.
The Warning Signs of Going Through The Motions of Faithful Service
Living without planning (verses 35-36)
These Christians are generally lazy Christians. True wisdom is making application of the knowledge of God’s Word so that you live it out in daily practice. They haven’t thought about how they could be a more effective witness, have victory over their temptations or comfort through their trials. They are like the people who go to the grocery store hungry but have no grocery list or menu or budget.
Key personality flaw: They lack preparation
Working without watching (verses 37-38)
These Christians are not lazy but very busy. They are like the night watchman so busily cleaning his guns and checking the locks that he has left his post as the watchman and jeopardizes his own safety and those he is to protect by letting the thief come in and wreak havoc.
Key personality flaw: They lack purpose
Serving without sincerity (verses 45-46)
These Christians are the half-hearted Christians. In verse 45, the servant thought he could get away with his sinful lifestyle because he didn’t think the master would be home so soon.
Key personality flaw: They lack personal discipline
Knowing without doing (verses 47)
These are Christians who have been around church a long time and know all the lingo. These Christians are more critical than complimentary of others.
Key personality flaw: They lack passion
The Characteristics of a Faithful Servant
Prepared Servant (verses 35-36)
- His loins are girt about.
- His lights are burning.
- He is waiting. (verses 36)
Watching Servant (verses 37-38)
- He is blessed.
- He remains vigilant and diligent.
- It is to be a continuous practice.
Faithfulness means a continual practice. - The level of future reward and rulership is directly proportional to the level of faithfulness in service.
Even a little faithfulness will bring you some level of reward but if done with lack of genuineness and true love for God it becomes wood hay and stubble.
Going through the motions is like hypocrisy. The apostle Paul was greatly convicted and impacted at the death of Stephen, the first martyr. Acts 6:10 says that the Jews could not resist the Spirit and the wisdom with which Stephen spoke. God allowed Paul to see this as a means of reaching his heart.