Sometimes, the case of Uzzah is brought forward to explain how a man wanted to work for God but ended up being killed. This gave me serious concern and fear as this line of thought was backed up with the scriptures. I could not help but to tremble. The implication of this is that in no time, fear becomes the motivation for working in His vineyard. So, I got to a point I needed to see what this scripture truly means and refers to.
I then began to wonder why such a statement will come to a man who must have believed he was working for God. And this has been interpreted most of the time in a way that presents God as one man who is waiting to nail you at the moment you err.
This text in the book of Luke just like a host of scriptural verses doesn’t exist in isolation. There has been a line of discussion before getting to the point where Jesus made the statement that is being used to create fear in the heart of men. In essence, to have an understanding of what Jesus meant, you must go through His line of thought within the entire conversation.
We saw in Luke chapter 12 how Jesus began to teach them on being ready for His return and the need for everyone to take responsibility while waiting for His return. He dwelt more on being careful and watchful for the return of the king and not living a careless life. His teaching was reflective of the fact that everyone has a work to do for the body of Christ.
It got to a point Peter had to ask Jesus if the message was for everyone because of the content of the message; it was more of service to God while waiting for His return.
Having heard Jesus discuss about entering the kingdom of God all through, one of his listeners among the crowd became bothered and wondered how it would be possible for a whole lot to make it to the kingdom going by the criteria Jesus laid down which obviously was strange to all they had known before. These were people who were used to the laws and offering sacrifices. Being without sin was alien to them. The law system and sacrificial administration built a culture in them that portends man as not being able to be without lawlessness. Then Jesus told him:
“The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, for the truth is that many will try to enter but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then if you stand outside knocking, and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us’, he will reply, I do not know you.’
Remember I told you the discussion didn’t just emerge; it was a follow up from what we had seen from chapter 12. Jesus had talked to them on being ready; staying faithful and expecting His coming. So, we see that Jesus explained further by showing us two groups of workers who will exist still in chapter 12 which was a background for his response in chapter 13.
“If his master returns and finds that he has done a good job, there will be a reward-his master will put him in charge of all he owns. But if the man begins to think, ‘My Lord won’t be back for a long time’, and begins to whip men and women he is supposed to protect, and to spend his time at drinking parties and in drunkenness- well, his master will return without notice and remove him from his position of trust and assign him to a place of the unfaithful” Luke12:44-45.
The second group of workers being described in the scripture above are the workers of iniquity referred to by Jesus in chapters 13. It wasn’t a separate discussion; having heard all that Jesus said in the previous discussions which was in chapter 12 led to the man asking the question which we saw in chapter 13. Workers of iniquity are those who are into the ministry without genuine compassion for souls and the gospel. Those who fall into this group know quite well that they don’t belong to Him. They are not fully in as they still want a little time out to enjoy the world and then come back to the King. They are not genuine.
Hence, this is not a message for those who are in Christ; it is for those who tend to be with Him but not known of Him.
“But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him” 1 Cor8:13
Next time you hear this scriptural text; don’t get scared. The iniquity there is living as though there is no Lordship of Jesus over your life- a state of lawlessness. The law which translates to works is no longer what it used to be in the old covenant. The work in the new covenant now is to believe in Jesus. And when you believe in Him, you will always want to obey Him.
“Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” John 6:29
If you are serving with love, you have nothing to fear about being despised in the end. People who love Him can’t live as though He doesn’t exist in them. And if you need to do an evaluation of your service, I encourage you to do, so as to be on the winning side.
Have a blessed week.
Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
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