For the last blog on this week’s Sunday School lesson, I’d like to examine the parable of the servants given in JS-M 1:49-55. In this parable, the master departs, leaving a servant in charge of his household. The wise servant is anxiously engaged in doing the work the master left for him, but the evil servant is slothful and spends his time in riotous living. When the master returns, the servant receives his reward.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie states in his book Doctrinal New Testament Commentary that “Jesus speaks here of his ministers, his servants, the holders of his holy priesthood. They are the ones whom he has made rulers in the household of God to teach and perfect his saints. Theirs is the responsibility to be so engaged when the Master returns.” In short, the difference is not between members and nonmembers. Both servants signify members of the Lord’s restored church.
The wise servant was doing the will of his lord. We, too, should strive to do the will of our Heavenly Father. Each of us has a stewardship of some sort. It may be over our families. It may be in our callings. It may just be our home or visiting teaching. But we have a responsibility to look after the Lord’s household. If we are serving to the best of our ability upon the Lord’s return (and remember, no man knows when that hour is; it could be today, it could be in twenty years), then we will be rewarded.
But if, on the other hand, we allow things of the world to interfere with our divinely appointed roles, we will also reap the consequences. In the parable, the servant spent his time focused on food and wine. We may not spend our life at the dinner table, but we can still allow things of the world to interfere with our responsibilities. For instance, have you ever considered comparing how much time you spend each day watching television to how much time you spend in scripture study? And then you complain about not having enough free time to immerse yourself in God’s words? What other worldly things might be distracting you?
Both servants were rewarded for their behavior in a just manner. The slothful servant was “cut asunder,” while the faithful servant was made “ruler over all (the master’s) goods). I find it interesting that the reward for being trustworthy was greater responsibility. But that is how things will be when we are exalted; we will receive more responsibilities and greater trust. In fact, it is how we treat our children. As they prove they are more trustworthy, we allow them more freedom and more responsibility.
I was recently called as a counselor in the Relief Society presidency of my branch. At the time (and still on occasion), I marvel that the Lord felt I was worthy of such a responsibility, that He would trust me in this position. I feel the responsibility keenly – and thankfully, I’m only second counselor, not president! I know that as I continue to be faithful, He will continue to trust in me. At the same time, I also know that I have not been as faithful to my spiritual growth over the last few months, while adjusting to a new baby in the house. Once again, I’ve resolved to keep things in order and to try to live worthy of the trust He has in me.
For other blogs on this week’s Sunday School lesson, click on the Gospel Doctrine link at right.
Related Articles:
Gospel Doctrine: Prepare His Ways and Make His Paths Straight
General Conference: Commitment to the Lord
General Conference: Discipleship