David Anguish
Though stated in different settings and terms, both Luke 12 and Hebrews 2 point to an important principle concerning our accountability before God.
In Luke 12:39-40, Jesus uses the illustration of the surprise coming of a thief to teach his disciples the importance of being ready when the Son of man comes. In answer to Peter's query whether that brief parable is addressed to the disciples or the world at large (v 41), Jesus tells of a slave who has been given responsibility for his master's possessions. The slave has a choice. He can take his task lightly and suffer the consequences, or be responsible and enjoy the rewards. Jesus' point is in the last half of verse 48: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more" (NASB).
Hebrews 2:3-4 is written in the context of the reminder of the majestic glory of Jesus with which Hebrews begins. As "heir of all things" who is "the radiance of [God's] glory and the exact representation of His nature" (1:2-3), Jesus is superior to the angels who are only "ministering servants" (1:14). Since "the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation" (2:2-3a)? The word "neglect" (amele_) means "to disregard, pay no attention, be unconcerned about." Christians who had been given knowledge of the good news about Jesus - "first spoken through the Lord", then "confirmed to us by those who heard" (v 3b) - were disregarding that knowledge.
Their disregard led to a crisis of faith. In chapter 3:7-19, the writer exhorts them to stand firm. Chapter 4:1-11 advises them to not reject the "good news" (v 2), but to "be diligent to enter [His] rest, so that no one will fall" (v 11). In chapter 5:11-14, they are chastised for being unable to handle the deeper teaching the writer wanted to share. Though they had been given ample time to do better - a fact which implies that some "grace period" for greater growth and understanding does exist - they had not taken advantage of their opportunities. Thus, instead of "press[ing] on," they remained mired in "the elementary teaching about the Christ" (6:1). They were living as if they had forgotten God's grace (6:9-12) instead of "tak[ing] hold of the hope set before [them]" (6:18). So, they needed a refresher course, one which included instructions concerning their superior blessings in a "new covenant" (chapters 8-10) as well as reminders from the examples of those who had already persevered in faith, the epitome of whom was Jesus (11:1-12:3).
Their crisis - and, if left uncorrected, their despair at judgment (cf. 12:25-29) - was the direct result of their failure to be faithful in what they had been given. We wonder if some today are not setting themselves up for the same kind of crisis and despair. Like them, we have been given a wonderful message. Like them, we have had time to mature. And like them, some of us continue to "need milk and not solid food" (5:12).
How much more should we know and do about God's will than we do? Only he knows our circumstances and opportunities. But we should pause to ask whether we are presuming on God's grace and whether the opportunities with his Word which we pass up will not one day come back to haunt us. While I'm glad that God allows time for growth, I also know that Jesus warned of those who will have done many good things "in his name" but will nonetheless hear the words, "Depart from me" (Matthew 7:22-23).
Since these things are so, "what sort of people ought [we] to be" (2 Peter 3:11)?