When God calls His followers, they are to serve as humble servants, fully subject to His will. As servants, they belong to Christ, who bought them with His blood, and they have no right of ownership over anything, for God owns them and all they possess, including their time. This means they are at His disposal, and He demands their total effort at all times, having every right to expect it as He has given all, owns all, and has a right to all. They are His by creation, by redemption, and by their surrender of their lives to Him. The images of plowing fields and tending sheep represent spiritual labor to which Christ called His followers, and a Master is not required to refresh or compensate His servant immediately, even after such work. The servant has merely done his duty and, though tired, remains under obligation to serve, preparing and serving the Master's meal before resting. From the Master's perspective, all the servant has accomplished is a matter of obligation, and further obedience and additional service are demanded. The Master's needs must be satisfied first, and only then may the servant eat. This represents the work on earth on the Master's behalf, giving Him the spiritual food and drink of seeing His Father's will accomplished. Servants are under obligation to Christ, and without delay or rest, they must present themselves completely to Him in service. The only limit to the servant's duty is the Master's will, and there is no point at which they can claim to have done enough or be entitled to ease. The servant is always a debtor of service; the Master is never a debtor of reward. Servants should not expect even thanks, though they serve not for nothing but receive consideration for the gift of salvation through dedicated obedience and humble service. God promises rewards, but servants serve Him because they are His to command as He wills and because they love Him, not simply to receive compensation. The lowly attitude of the servant is evident in the term bondservant, indicating complete authority of the Master over the servant. Followers must take this lowly position to serve the Master well. Their service will always fall short of the suffering and sacrifice Jesus received while in the flesh on earth. Therefore, even after serving their best at what the Master requires, they are still unprofitable servants in comparison to Christ. After performing their duty perfectly, they remain short of earned credit before God and cannot build anything on their own effort. If they expect thanks and reward for fulfilling the minimum requirement of work, their thoughts are not on the duty but on what they may gain. Christ expects every follower to do his duty in a mind and will unified with His, emphasizing humility—a hard lesson for those who will not serve unless given recognition, honor, or position. Much of the service performed for Him is humbling and obscure by worldly standards, yet it must be done in faith, with a humble, obedient, serving attitude that fosters increased faith and true forgiveness.

Jesus teaches the importance of watchfulness through parables, emphasizing the role of the servant in being prepared for His unexpected return. The faithful servant remains vigilant, ready to serve the master even if He arrives late at night or early in the morning, and is blessed for such dedication. Jesus declares that blessed is the servant whom His Lord will find faithfully serving when He comes, highlighting the reward for steadfastness. In contrast, the unwise servant errs by assuming the master's delay allows for negligence, forgetting the inevitable day of judgment and presuming there is ample time to correct wrongs. Such a mindset is harmful, as readiness must be constant. The evil servant further neglects responsibility by mistreating others under his care, acting contrary to the command to be prepared, and faces severe consequences for this evasion, underscoring the seriousness of failing in duty. The parables also illustrate that servants are judged according to their understanding and response to the master's will. Those who know their master's expectations and fail to act face stricter judgment than those who sin in ignorance, yet all bear personal responsibility for their actions. Knowledge and privilege bring greater accountability, and sin is doubly grievous for those who understand better. The call is clear: to be found faithfully serving and glorifying God when Christ returns.

In the teachings of Jesus Christ, the concept of watching is closely tied to His return, yet it does not pertain to physical observation of world events. Instead, He emphasizes the importance of servants being vigilant and diligent in their responsibilities. He desires His servants to maintain His household in order, ensuring all is prepared for His return, regardless of when it occurs. If servants spend their time gazing out the window for signs of His coming rather than fulfilling their duties, they neglect what He has charged them to do. The mundane, monotonous chores of a servant may tempt one to relax and delay preparation, but Jesus warns that a servant's responsibility is to keep the household ready, not to anticipate the timing of His return. In the parable addressing the steward's role, Jesus further clarifies that servants must be watchful in their work and authority over the household while the Master is away. He stresses that no one knows the timing of His return, and thus, servants must focus on their responsibilities before God rather than speculate on how events might unfold. The critical point is the state of readiness and usefulness of the household and its servants when He returns. If they are not prepared or have been idle, they will face His wrath. Jesus instructs His servants to be awake, sober, and vigilant about their spiritual state, to have continuous concern over fulfilling their part of the covenant, and to guard against spiritual dangers and deception. Those who diligently watch over themselves and their responsibilities, along with praying always, will be accounted worthy to escape the wrath. Simply looking for signs of the Master's return does not prepare a servant for anything. Instead, true watching emphasizes diligence and alertness to spiritual matters, faithfully carrying out the God-given tasks like a servant in the Master's house. If servants fail to watch over themselves and their covenant responsibilities, He will come upon them like a thief, and they may not be counted worthy to escape.