For Goodness Sake
By Beverly Caudell
December 16, Wednesday – Psalms 119:49–72, 49, [53]; Zech. 3:1–10; Rev. 4:1–8; Matt. 24:45–51
(ESV Daily Office Readings Online)
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”
Have you been naughty or nice this season? In the midst of Advent, we try to be good with daily prayer (I admit, here I’m not so good). We await our sweet savior. As I read Matthew 24:45-51, it made me think: naughty or nice? Good vs. evil. (the major theme of a hotly anticipated movie soon to be out I might add.)
We try, try, TRY to be good, faithful servants. We try to adhere to Jesus’ teachings to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But…
It’s hard to love the angry lady behind me in the checkout line… “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming’ and begins to beat his fellow servants…” It could be as simple as ‘My boss isn’t looking, I’ll play solitaire or gossip about my co-workers.’
Maybe it’s cutting someone off in traffic or not looking behind you as you enter someplace to see who may need you to hold the door.
We try so hard to be so good for God, to be patient and wait for him but we let down our watch and give in to that dark side.
“…the master of that (evil) servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.”
During this Advent season let’s all be good for goodness sake – be good for HIS GOODness sake!
Maybe bring a warm blanket to a neighbor on a cold night, maybe choose to love our family members and their eccentricities. HE knows if we’ve been bad or good. “Blessed is that servant whom, his master when he comes, will find so doing.”
Let Jesus look upon you this season and see every good thing.
