Luke Part 53: A True, Loving, Servant's Attitude

Text: Luke 17:1-7

This  passage continues Jesus' teachings on kingdom life.  In the first few verses, there is a short exhortation regarding trials and difficulties.  Note first that Jesus says that these trials and difficulties are inevitable -- they will come.  Even in this new kingdom of light and love, outcroppings of sin and difficulty will appear.  Yet, we each have a responsibility to govern ourselves and to help others.  Jesus says, "Woe to him" who brings those trials.  We must take heed to ourselves.  A forgiven people is still a vigilant people, taking care not to cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble.

Then, we are reminded to be ready to forgive and ask forgiveness.  We are not isolationists; we are living in constant contact with other Christians.  We will all still fall in areas and need to ask forgiveness.  It doesn't matter how often we sin or are sinned against; we must forgive and ask for forgiveness.

The disciples regarding this exhortation to constant forgiveness as a radical and difficult teaching, and so they said, "Increase our faith!"  Jesus responds by telling them that if they had faith as a mustard seed, they could do mighty things.  The teaching here is that the faith that you have if sufficient to enable you to do what God has given you to do.  God equips us completely for his work.

Yet, we still have difficulties.  Why?  The answer is our walk.  To bring this home, Jesus provides the example of the master and the servant.  The servant does a number of chores for the master, but is not praised or thanked for them, because he is merely doing his duty.

This is a negative example, not a parable of life in the kingdom.  The servant in this example was serving only to survive.  He was merely doing what his master had commanded and he was performing his duty slavishly.  Why should he have the attitude that he should be highly commended for only doing what he had to do to get by?

Unlike that servant, we should realize that it is a high honor to serve God!  It should amaze us that we can serve the living God!  Our service, therefore, should be one of joy and gladness.  We are not serving simply to survive.  God has given to us all things, and we serve Him out of gratitude for all He has done for us.  Our Savior Jesus is an excellent example both of a perfect servant and of a reason for our gratitude and love.

We must always stay on guard against a slavish attitude.  When we see added responsibilities piled on us, we shouldn't groan under the load, but see them as an extra privilege for us.  We are serving our King!