People always care about what is important to them; but in other matters they are either indifferent, care-less or exploitative. Although Jesus used parables, many of which may have seemed to have a general moral meaning, the disciples had started to realise that Jesus was speaking to them (Luke 12:41). Jesus would be going away (John 14:28) but would return for those who were expectantly waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28). The task of the disciples, in their calling to be Jesus’ apostles, was to prepare His church to be ready for His return.
The apostles and leaders of the church through the ages would either be faithful to their commission (Luke 12:42-44) or be self-indulgent servants who had no care for their Master's property (His people) while He was away. Such wicked people, although religious and even revered, would be disgraced. Their personal self-obsession, exploitation of God’s other servants and the lack of interest in preparing God’s people for Christ’s return, would reap the reward of His undiluted anger and expulsion from His kingdom.
Of course, Jesus cares very much about His world and His people. If He did not care there would be no judgement. So, the trainee apostles needed to be very clear that Jesus wanted them to take their privileged calling seriously. Alas, Judas Iscariot was also listening to what Jesus said, but he did not heed the warning of destruction. The remainder of the team came to understand that although salvation is freely offered to those who submit to Him (John 3:16), for those who refuse God's mercy, catastrophic judgement is inevitable (John 3:36).
Eagerly longing for the return of Jesus is a desire the apostles possessed. They passed its message on to the churches; it was incorporated in the training of church leaders (2 Timothy 4:8). Because God cares so passionately about His church, woe betide any leader who uses their privileged responsibility to please themselves (Luke 11:42-52). God’s under-shepherds are to feed the flock, not feed themselves from the flock (Ezekiel 34:1-6). The best thought to guard the heart against such error is to remember that Jesus is coming back (1 Timothy 6:13-15). When He arrives unexpectedly, He will expect to see us serving in a way which will please Him. So whatever changes are necessary to ensure that will be so, let us make them today and reset our focus (and the focus of those who look to us) on being ready to account to Him when He returns.
