We hear all the time that our life could change in an instant.

It happened last week to many people.

All around the world, people died. All around the world people were going about their lives and suddenly a shot, a heart attack, a lightening bolt, a car accident, a storm, a stroke.

And that’s what Jesus says about his return and the end of the age. It will be unexpected.

It’s  a tough way to start a new week, isn’t it, this talk of death?

But Jesus’ point wasn’t to be depressing. Quite the contrary. His point was to live with expectation, anticipation, readiness, hope. To live as if something wonderful is about to happen. To endure the mundane, the awful, the annoying with a sense that we are keeping faith.

Jesus tells an interesting story for his followers to consider, particularly those who lead.

The owner of an estate leaves a servant in charge of feeding the rest of the household. It’s the owner’s staff and the owner’s kitchen and the owner’s schedule and the owner’s fields and the owner’s herds and the owner’s responsibility to have all of these cared for.

If that servant does a good job, works thoughtfully, knows that the rest of the staff will have their view of the owner shaped by what he does, we would agree that the servant deserves a bonus when the owner returns. For us it is like a CEO who understands the stewardship of leading.

If that servant, however, begins to act as if it all belongs to him. If the servant takes it upon himself to beat the rest of the staff and waste the resources, like an abusive CEO, we would want him fired.

Steward well as long as you live. Because someday you won’t.