Today in God’s Word

August 6, Matthew 25

Do you have a picture in your mind of what judgment will be like? Since I was a little boy (probably influenced by preachers I heard describing that day), I’ve imagined how it will be to stand before God in judgment. Jesus painted three word pictures of how it’s going to be at the judgment. These stories should not only shape our mental images of judgment day, but shape our lives as well.

The first story is about being ready, making adequate preparation before the time comes. Knowing about the ancient marriage customs might enhance the picture, but the message is clear: those who are ready will go into the celebration, and those who failed to make adequate preparation or think they’re going to rely on the preparation of others aren’t going to be included when the door is shut.

The second story stresses being faithful stewards of what the Lord gives us. A steward manages someone else’s property. He accounts for his management of the owner’s goods. The master knows every servant’s ability and hands out opportunity accordingly. Not everyone gets the same. But all are expected to be good managers of the gifts entrusted to them. The man in the story who is cast out instead of welcomed in claimed he was afraid. The master said he was wicked and lazy. But the good managers who brought the master a return on his investment in them were commended for their faithfulness, rewarded and welcomed.

The third story may be the most disturbing of this trilogy of judgment stories. I think on some level we realize we are supposed to make adequate preparation, and that we are responsible for what we did with what we had. But this one goes beyond general principles of readiness and good management to the practical difference following Jesus is supposed to make in how we treat others. The commended and the condemned in this story had one common characteristic: Neither of them recognized the king in his needy disguises. The ones who showed compassion and hospitality to people in need did it without knowing the king would take personally whatever they did for others. And the people who were hard-hearted toward needy people around them never imagined the king would take personally whatever they failed to do for the needy.

My grown-up mental picture of the judgment is probably not much more accurate than the one I had as a kid. There are many things we just don’t know. But these stories tell us what we really need to know, and remind us to behave as if we know it: Make preparation well in advance, put whatever God entrusts to you to good use and remember he knows how you treat the needy people in your path. Jesus says people who do those things are wise, faithful and blessed. Are you?

From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide

for Your Journey Through the New Testament,

Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used

by permission. All rights reserved.

Today in God's Word—August 2024

East Tallassee Church of Christ