Luke 17:7-10
Unworthy Servants
“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (ESV)
The Expositor’s Commentary (Abridged) New Testament says of this teaching:
“7-10 Luke here presents Jesus’ teaching about the ideal of servanthood. The world’s idea of success is to lord it over others; Jesus’ way is the reverse—namely, servanthood—which is actually the way to true greatness. The circumstances that Jesus describes here were normal in that society and the point is obvious (cf. 12:35-37, where Jesus highlights God’s grace by a reversal of this normal procedure). Through this parable Jesus emphasizes the proper servant attitude. He does not intend to demean servants but to make their duty clear.”
Just as Jesus humbled himself to wash his disciple’s feet, so we must humble ourselves and be God’s servants to this world… whether to believers or nonbelievers. This teaching above asks us to be content with service. We are only doing our duty when we serve others. We should avoid undue focus on ourself, but rather focus people on the Lord. We should not expect special recognition or praise (though God sees our work and will one day praise us for being “good and faithful” servants ( Matthew 25:23 ).
We should not boast in our service. We will get our reward in the consumated Kingdom if we remain humble and not try to get the praise of men in this age.
“God, whatever is most for your glory, let that be my will as it is your will.”
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Maranatha! IC -|- XC
Prayer for Today:
Lord, help us to develop humility in our daily walk. It is not always easy to remain humble and content when we see others get praise for their works. If God wants us to be praised, we will be, but we risk losing our heavenly reward if we are puffed up try to get some reward before men, now. ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ) Amen.