Devotional:Much Given, Much Required:Luke 12:35-48

My sister sends me an email. She tells me that when she was a child her mom said to her that she was lucky that she had a mother to teach her right from wrong. There are many children that grow up without a mother (father) to teach them. Later in life she has experiences that remind her of what her mother had said. She experiences as a school teacher situations in which the ones that in her opinion should be teaching simply dismiss their duties by rationalizing that the children already know what they should do. Now she is concerned about the migrant children at the southern border. Where are their parents? Do the children know and understand the difference between right and wrong? Why are the children separated from their parents? These things remind her of what her mom had said to her many years ago. She had a mother to teach her right and wrong. For me, this raises the issues of responsibility and accountability. I inform my sister of the words of Jesus; paraphrased, “to whom much is given, much is required” (see Lk. 12:48).

In Luke Jesus tells a parable. A master (slave owner) goes to a wedding feast. He leaves his slaves who are supposed to be ready for the master’s return. When the master returns some of the slaves are prepared for their masters’ return while others are not prepared. Some of the slaves take their responsibilities seriously. They are prepared to be held accountable to their master. Others have not taken their responsibilities seriously and they are not prepared to be held accountable. The master will punish those slaves that are not prepared. Their punishment will be based on what they had received. Those that had received little would be given a few lashes. Those that received much and failed to carry out their responsibilities would receive many lashes.

My sister’s mom took her responsibility to teach her children right from wrong seriously. She was determined that her children would know what is right and what is wrong. More importantly, it was her responsibility to make sure that her children understood that there is a difference between what is right and what is wrong. She had been given much, and she understood that the Lord holds her accountable to teach her children the things that she herself had learned.

Prayer: Lord, we will be responsible to use whatever you give to us to serve you through our service to others. Amen.