Text: Luke 12:32-40
service (Photo credit: nuanc)
“Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes…”
Assuming that you have never actually been a slave, what in your experience comes the closest to being a slave? What do you know of needing to be ready at a moment’s notice to respond to the needs of another? Perhaps you have cared for a child, or a parent, an invalid or even a demanding pet.
What is it like to be “on alert” every moment? What kind of attentiveness is required? What aspects of your own life—your desires, your time, your resources—must be given up to be of service? What rewards come from serving well? Recognition from the one for whom you are caring? Satisfaction in being adequate to the task? In what way is a prepared servant “blessed”?
– Andy Kille
“Between the Lines” is excerpted from BibleWorkbench, a weekly resource for engaging the biblical story in a new way published by the Educational Center in Charlotte, NC. For details and subscription information, see About BibleWorkbench.
At the Workbench 
It seems that this piece is not quite right. The reference to being a slave, has many connotations. I think more of the context of this piece is needed, to avoid, what on the surface seems to be marginally insensitive to the historical reference to slavery in the United States. Respectfully, Casey Shaffer
Casey- Thank you for noting that possible confusion, but as you say, the term “slave” has a number of contexts. While the institutions of slavery in the US and the ancient world are not the same, how would you say the experience of a slave is different? How would you phrase the question, given that the text is speaking of slavery?