Vigilant in Spirit, Faithful in Stewardship

Today we examine two passages of Scripture that call us to a life of vigilance - both in our spiritual readiness for the Lord's return and in our stewardship of worldly possessions. The Lord speaks to us through Luke 12 and the wisdom of Sirach, revealing two sides of the same faithful coin. As we meditate upon these words, let us consider how our readiness for Christ's return is intimately connected with how we manage the resources entrusted to us in this present life.

 

In Luke 12:35-36, our Lord Jesus instructs us: "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks."

These words paint a vivid picture of spiritual alertness. The servants are not idle or asleep; they are dressed for action with lamps burning bright. This readiness is not occasional but constant. The servants do not know when their master will return, yet they maintain a state of perpetual preparation.

This readiness represents our spiritual vigilance. We are called to live each day as if Christ might return at any moment. Our faith should not slumber, our devotion should not grow cold, and our spiritual lamps should remain filled with the oil of prayer, Scripture, and obedience to God's commandments. The Scripture teaches us that true faith is not passive but active - it is dressed and ready, with light shining in the darkness.

Our Lord continues in verses 37-40: "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

 

Here we see the reward of faithful vigilance - the master himself will serve those who remain watchful! This extraordinary reversal reveals the heart of our Lord, who came not to be served but to serve. Yet notice that the blessing comes to those who remain faithful through the watches of the night - through the long hours when it would be easy to grow weary or distracted.

 

The uncertainty of timing - "the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" - is not meant to frighten us but to keep us alert. We do not watch out of fear but out of love and anticipation. Like a bride awaiting her bridegroom, we maintain our readiness not as a burden but as an expression of our devotion to Christ.

Now we turn to the wisdom of Sirach, which provides another dimension of vigilance - how we handle material possessions. Sirach 31:8-9 teaches us: "Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless, and who does not go after gold. Who is he, that we may praise him? For he has done wonders among his people."

This passage reveals that wealth itself is not evil, but rather how we relate to it determines its spiritual impact on our lives. The one who is blessed is not simply wealthy, but "found blameless" - indicating a life of integrity in the acquisition and use of resources. Such a person "does not go after gold" - meaning they are not driven by greed or the endless pursuit of more.

 

This vigilance with wealth parallels our spiritual readiness. Just as we must be watchful for the Lord's return, we must be watchful over our hearts regarding material possessions. The Scripture esteems the wealthy person who maintains righteousness as someone who "has done wonders" - suggesting that using wealth with integrity and generosity is indeed a remarkable testimony in a world often dominated by greed.

 

Sirach continues in verses 10-11: "Who has been tested by it and been found perfect? Let it be for him a ground for boasting. Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress, and to do evil and did not do it?"

These verses acknowledge the spiritual test that wealth presents. Few can be tested by wealth and found perfect, for the temptations of abundance are many. The one who has the power to transgress but chooses righteousness demonstrates true spiritual vigilance.

 

This connects directly with our readiness for Christ's return. The faithful servant is one who manages the master's resources with integrity, not using the master's absence as an opportunity for self-indulgence or exploitation. True contentment comes not from abundance itself but from using whatever we have in accordance with God's will.

 

The question "Who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress?" reminds us that stewardship is ultimately about faithfulness in the face of temptation. It is about having the opportunity to misuse what God has entrusted to us, yet choosing instead to honor Him with those resources.

 

These passages from Luke and Sirach call us to a complete readiness - vigilance in both spiritual matters and material stewardship. They remind us that our faith is not compartmentalized but encompasses every aspect of our lives.

As we await the Lord's return with lamps burning bright, let us also manage our earthly resources with righteousness and contentment. Let us recognize that both forms of vigilance spring from the same heart of faithfulness. The servant who is ready for the master's return is the same servant who handles the master's household with integrity.

May we be found faithful in both our spiritual watchfulness and our stewardship of God's gifts. May we live each day with the lamp of faith burning brightly, neither slumbering in spiritual complacency nor stumbling in the pursuit of wealth. And when our Lord returns, may He find us vigilant in spirit and faithful in all things. -F.D.