Serving as a Duty
Luke 17:1-10
The first step in our Journey of Faith is learning to forgive. The second step is believing a little. The third step is serving as a duty.
Let me be blunt: God owes us nothing. And if it is true that God owes us nothing, then we understand why self-righteousness is such a loathsome attitude for religious people. Self righteousness assumes that we are due God's blessings and grace because of our good behavior. Let's take a look at this short parable that teaches us to avoid this attitude.
Jesus asks you to imagine you are the owner of a farm with slaves. When the slave's work is done for the day and he comes in from the field, are you going to wait on him? Help him recline at the table? Prepare his meal? Serve his supper? I dare say not. He is not the master. You are the master and it is you who will say to the slave I am hungry. Get the meal ready and wait on me while I eat and drink and when I am done then you can eat.
Jesus then drives home his point. The master is under no obligation to say thank you to the slave. Why? Because the slave was simply doing his job. It is what is expected of him. The servant is not worthy to receive any compliments when he does what he is expected to do. It is a message that flies in the face of our need to be recognized.
Does that mean we should not honor those who do good works? Not at all. It simply means it is our duty to work in the kingdom of God and we are due nothing for that work. First and foremost we live for God expecting nothing in return.
The world's most famous evangelist D. L. Moody was hosting a Bible Conference in Massachusetts in the 1800's. Many of the participants came from Europe. Following the European custom of the time. they left their shoes outside their room to be cleaned by the hall servants over night. They did not know that there were no hall servants in America. Walking down the dormitory halls that night, Moody noticed the shoes and determined not to embarrass his guests.He gathered up the shoes, went to his room and began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret. The following morning the foreign visitors opened their doors and found their shoes shined. They did not know by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, a different person volunteered to shine the shoes in secret each night.
This story is a good example of what we are asked to do in the Gospel Lesson today: So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty."(Luke 17:10)
Our duty, Your duty,. My duty as a Christian: Forgiving those who repent, believing just a little, and serving as a duty. Amen
Questions to Ponder
How important is it for you to be recognized?
Are you doing your duty as a Christian?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
