The Fate of the Idle Servant

Ignorance may very well be bliss, but I might want to consider where it actually leads me.

Perhaps I should be regarded as somewhat of an authority on this subject. Having grown up with a twin brother, I soon learned that, quite often, we were both disciplined equally for an offense committed by only one or the other.

I can also testify that, more than once, I was completely unaware of what he was up to.

It seems that, as we mature, we have a tendency to exchange our childish obsession with unfairness for ignorance on demand. If we can just get our heads buried in the sand at the right time, then it all becomes irrelevant.

Ignorance is always likely to get a pass. And sometimes it’s justifiable.

But, according to the Man, Jesus Christ, not realizing what His will for me in this age isn’t likely to be an acceptable excuse when He returns to repay me for my works in the next one. In Luke’s gospel account, a conversation between Jesus and His disciples eventually evolved into the topic of personal responsibility–a pattern of dialog often repeated.

In a parable, He described different scenarios of consequences for the servants of a master who trusted them to be faithful to his instructions while he was gone. As a result, when he returned, the evil servant was severely punished and then put into a place with the unfaithful. [Lk. 12:45-46] On the other hand, the servant who actually knew his Master’s will but didn’t do it received heavy punishment. [vs. 47]

But there were also the servants who did not know what their Master’s will was. [vs. 48] While their punishment was to be less severe than the others, I think it’s important for Jesus Christ’s disciples to understand that no one gets off the hook simply because he was unaware of his job description.

If I can’t read the Bible, I can learn to. If I’m too lazy to read it, I suppose I could ask someone what it says or listen to what others say about it. Good luck with that.

Either way, I can’t be Christ’s disciple and not know what He wants me to do.

But neither can I be a jet mechanic with limited knowledge about hydraulics and turbofan engines. No one would dare let me get away with that.

So why would He?

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” [Lk. 12:48b]