Sermon Tone Analysis

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

What is tragic in the Church of today is that most of its members in general and its leaders, in particular have overlooked and or downplayed the seriousness of being a servant in the kingdom of God.

It may be due to the fact that many ascribe to the belief that to be “out of sight” is to be “out of mind”.

That is, the dangerous tendency, to forget what you can not see.

In his dramatic critique of American culture, Philip Slater, in The Pursuit of Loneliness, reminds us we are living in the period of the “toilet assumption,” namely, that when something disappears or is no longer visible, we think we are rid of it.

This is true with the race situation, with the poor, with the environment.

If somehow we can keep them out of sight, we feel that the battle is won.

But, let me be abundantly clear about it from the very start today, no one is ever out of the sight, nor of the mind of the all seeing God with which we must give an account.

The psalmist reminds us of this truth in

Knowledge of this fact ought to be the motivating power behind every servant; That although the Master is absent temporally, he will return again and call us into account for our stewardship.

Contextual Consideration

In the text lifted for our consideration, the Lord Jesus and His disciples are in Jerusalem.

Having just exited the temple, the disciples admire it for its beauty and grandeur.

Jesus, bursts their bubbles by declaring that the temple would be destroyed along with all its glory.

The disciples are left mesmerized at the prospect of this terrible prediction and asks the Lord “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age (vv.1-3)?”

Jesus goes through a litany of events that will proceed that impending hour; all of which could make them want “to holler and throw up both their hands”.

He finally tells them that “no one knows, but the Father alone” ().

Therein lies the crux of the issue today: Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth, died on an old rugged cross, was laid in a borrowed tomb, rose from the dead early on the third day, seen by many witness and then was taken up out of their sight ().

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I am convinced this afternoon that the Lord was trying to teach his disciples then as well as his disciples today that although his return may not be immediate, it is nevertheless imminent.

What did I just say?

I said He may not come when you want Him; but, He is always on time.

Notice, if you will, that in the midst of all that is going on around them, the servant is to keep on serving.

They are to be on alert (42), they are to keep their charge (45), and they are to live expectantly (50).

All of this while the Lord is out of sight.

WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY, THE MOUSE WILL PLAY

We may as well be real; people have a bad habit of trying to get away with whatever they can.

The old saying has it that “when the cat is away the mouse will play.”

This suggests that people don’t usually do what they are suppose to do without being monitored.

Greater Community, you find yourselves in a precarious predicament at this present hour: you are without pastoral leadership in the midst of a very unstable world.

I believe that now, more than ever before, the admonishment of the apostle Paul is applicable:

The Leadership Expectations

The faithful servant does not subscribe to the "out of sight, out of mind philosophy but focuses on 1) what a faithful servant looks like, 2) what a faithful servant does, and 3) what a faithful servant knows.

I.

A faithful servant looks (42-44) - Alert and working - Be aware of the potential for an enemy attack; a break in by a thief.

II.

A faithful servant does - Carries out his or her charges and duties (45-47): feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned...

A charge to keep I have—a God to glorify, who gave His Son my soul to save and fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill—O may it all my pow’rs engage to do my Master’s will!

Arm me with jealous care, as in Thy sight to live; and O Thy servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray, and on Thyself rely; and let me ne’er my trust betray, but press to realms on high

III.

The Faithful Servant knows that God is always watching.

The text seems to suggest that the Master will know how the servants behaved when he suddenly catches them in the act after his being gone for so long.

I want suggest that he had been watching all along, he had been hoping that many would have grown up and matured during his absence.

Certainly, the disciples knew that the eye of the Lord is in every place beholding the good and the evil.

Conclusion

God rewards faithful servants - “Well done”