Text –Luke 17:10- "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do"
In Luke 17, an important discussion occurred between Jesus and the Apostles. Bible tells us in verse 5 of Luke 17, that the Apostles made a request, "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith"
Jesus responded in verse 6, by telling them what great and incredible things could be achieved with seemingly little & insignificant faith- "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
Furthermore in verses 7-10, Jesus proceeded to issue a warning by use of a parable
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do’."
Through this parable, Jesus instructs us that no man must take Glory for 'his' exploits of faith. We are to humbly point all attention to God, emphasizing that without Him, we can do nothing!
Basically, it's not about the size of our faith, how hard we have worked on our faith, how much sacrifice we have made in building 'spiritual muscles' or how close we are to God... IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD; HE ALONE DOES GREAT & WONDROUS THINGS! Having done all, Jesus admonishes us that we are to look forward to our reward from God, not as a debt he owes us, but as a gracious gift from a loving master.
Does this passage about being servants of God negate the fact that we are sons of God as some suggest? No... We should rather see ourselves as SERVING SONS.
When we compare this parable with the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14- 30, we immediately see a sharp contrast between Luke 17:10 and Matt. 25:30.
Luke 17: 10- "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
"Matthew 25:30- "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"
Therefore, we conclude that,
"Happy is he who judges himself an unprofitable servant; miserable is he whom God pronounces such.
PRAYERS
1. Lord, let my faith in you be full, unreserved and productive
2. Lord, may I never steal your Glory. Help me always to are to humbly point all attention to you, emphasizing that without You, I can do nothing.
3. On the last day, may I not be pronounced an unprofitable servant by my Lord and master.
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