THE HOUSEHOLDER

Today’s parable concludes Mark’s record of the Olivet discourse. Once again the Lord portrays Himself as an absent householder who commits the responsibility of His affairs to His servants. In a previous study, we considered the service of those who are appointed rulers ‘over his household’. Here, as in the parable of the talents, Matt. 25. 15, emphasis is placed upon the fact that the Lord gives ‘to every man his work’.

There are a number of factors that affect the household oper­ating as it should. Not least of these is that if everyone has a role to play, one person defaulting causes the work as a whole to suf­fer. The plain teaching of Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 is that all members have a ‘necessary’ part to play in the functioning of the church, which is His body. There is great potential for good were this to be the case in each assembly.

One such aspect of service in His household is that of acting as a porter or door-keeper. This role has been vital since the earli­est days of church testimony and will be so until the Lord returns. It has always been the adversary’s desire to infiltrate God’s people and contaminate from the inside. Paul was aware of this ploy when he predicted to the Ephesian elders that after his departure ‘shall grievous wolves enter in among you’, Acts 20. 29. In these days of dwindling numbers, it is still of para­mount importance that vigilance is maintained at the door.

The aspect of the porter’s duty which the Lord focuses upon here is that of watchfulness. The four references to stages of the night represent the Roman division of a night into four watches. This signifies that the Lord could return at any time, though it is bound to be night-time for some part of the earth. What a shame for the porter to be found asleep when he should be alert! Despite the night being the time for sleep, the expectation of the master of the house is that his establishment is guarded at all times. Alas, we quickly forget His lessons. In the very next chap­ter we find the Lord expressing disappointment when, in the garden, He ‘findeth them sleeping’, Mark 14. 37. It is reassuring to realize with the psalmist that ‘he that keepeth thee will not slumber’, Ps. 121. 3.