Do Not Fall Asleep While Waiting for the Lord

Jesus said:

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them sit down to eat, and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
— Luke 12:35-40 (NIV)

And again:

“Be on guard! You do not know when the owner of the house will come—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!”
— Mark 13:35-37 (NIV)

These verses remind us of the story of a master who had many servants, each with a responsibility: some prepared meals, some cared for the animals, some kept the house secure, and others performed daily chores. Each servant had a role.

One day, the master left to attend a wedding and told his servants to stay alert. He did not say exactly when he would return, only that they must be ready at all times—whether evening, midnight, or morning. Those responsible for security had to be prepared to open the door immediately when he arrived. The emphasis was on constant vigilance, because the servants did not know the hour of his return.

If the master had returned unexpectedly after two days and found the servants asleep, they would have faced serious consequences.

This story is a parallel to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Every true believer is a servant of Christ and has been entrusted with a gift to build God’s kingdom. These gifts are meant to be active and fruitful until Christ returns. If He comes and finds a gift unused or dormant, it shows not only that the gift has failed, but that the servant has been spiritually “asleep,” distracted by worldly matters—placing them at great risk.

We must remember daily that we are on God’s mission. We are called to be faithful, diligent, and watchful in the tasks He has entrusted to us.