Luke 12:35

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning,”

The parable begins with a description of what is required of the Lord's servants. In modern terms we would say that they have to have their sleeves rolled up and the lights switched on so that they can go about their tasks with all their might. They have to be like those swotting up in the week before their examinations, concentrating all their attention and effort on it.

‘Your loins girded.' The long robes they wore hindered work, and so they had to be gathered up and tucked in their belts. ‘Your lamps burning.' Their lamps for which they were responsible all had to be continually refilled with oil and their wicks tended so as to give off a bright flame. In a large household this could be quite a task in itself.