To Whom Much Is Given Much Will Be Required

"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.  But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)

Luke, the physician and a travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, records this parable which Jesus spoke to His disciples and to the crowd which had gathered.  He first told them, "You also must be ready, because The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." (Luke 12:40)  Then Jesus told them the parable of the manager whom the master leaves in charge of the servants, the food, and all of his possessions.  When the master left, the manager mistreated the servants, and consumed excessive food and drink.  The master returned unexpectedly, caught him drunk and  behaving poorly, and punished him. (Luke 12:40-48)  Then Jesus made the point that those who knowingly disobey will be punished more severely, and those who are given more will be held to a higher standard.

The Lord is a good and righteous judge, He will reward and punish people as they deserve based upon their thoughts, spoken words, and their behavior. (2 Timothy 4:8)  He also takes into account the knowledge and understanding of the person being judged. (Luke 12:47)  He who knows better, and still does that which is wrong, will be punished more severely than he who does wrong unknowingly.  Those to whom much is given, of them will much be required. (Luke 12:48)  The more that we are blessed, the more we will be held accountable for how we handled our blessings.  We are blessed so that we may be a blessing to others. (Read Luke 16:19-31 regarding a certain rich man and Lazarus the beggar)  He that gives to the poor is actually lending to The Lord and He will repay him. (Proverbs 19:17)  Those who are entrusted with positions of leadership and influence will be judged on how we handled that responsibility and whether or not we helped others.  We will be held to a higher standard.  Those of us who "have", will be judged on what we did with it, and on how we treated those who "have not".  Those in positions of influence should be very careful regarding what they say and do around, and to, those who listen to them, follow them, and are influenced by them.  There will be varying degrees of punishment in eternity depending upon the sin committed. (Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:22-24, Mark 6:11, and Hebrews 10:29)  We should make sure that our sins are forgiven.