Recently, while reading through the book of Luke, I came across some verses that I didn’t remember reading before. As I read them, I found myself bristling like a cat whose fur is being rubbed in the wrong direction. I felt uncomfortable with what Jesus was saying. This is the passage I was reading:
Luke 17: 7-10
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.”
In our culture, it is difficult to understand what being a servant might be like. The idea of servitude is contemptible to us. After all, we are free and independent Americans. We don’t like to be told what to do or how to do it. We like to choose our own way and direct our own destiny (or so we imagine!). Jesus’ teachings, though, are full of lessons that involve servants. We have to learn what it means to be a servant so we can begin to apply His teaching in our lives.
It is important for us to see that this passage does not compare the master to God. The master is “any one of you”—the disciples who are listening. The lessons are about the role of the servant, not the master. It is also important for us to see the context of Jesus’ words. He had been warning the disciples about causing others to sin, warning them, “Pay attention to yourselves!” in verse 3. Then he spoke about the need to forgive others in verse 4. The disciples must have felt their shortcomings in this area, because they responded by saying, “Increase our faith!” Jesus’ reply seems to indicate that it isn’t more faith that is needed, but putting that faith into action by obedience and trust. He then gave them this illustration about being a servant, reminding them of some basic things:
- There’s going to be some work involved. No matter what example we look at, servants have work to do. It is very clear that the master does not work for the servant, but the servant for the master. It might be laboring in the fields, or working in the household. It might be delivering a message or handling accounts. The work varies, but a servant is responsible to serve his master by doing work, and this work becomes his purpose. It is not just a check-off list of tasks to complete, but a life of service.
- Obedience is necessary. A servant must do what his master directs him to do, In Luke 19:11-27 we find another illustration Jesus used about servants. A master entrusts his property to his servants with the instructions to “engage in business” while he is away. Jesus tells about opposition against the master and the uncertain circumstances in which this occurred. When the master returns, he discovers that while some servants have been obedient, one servant has simply buried what was given to him. He is described as “wicked” in contrast to the “good and faithful” servants because he did not follow the instructions of the master.
- There will be times when being a servant will be uncomfortable. Although the servant described in this passage was tired, hungry, and thirsty after his work outside, his service had to take priority. Being a servant is not about rest and relaxation and pursuing the comforts of life. In Matthew 24:45-51, Jesus described a servant who decided to live it up (an excessive focus on eating and drinking is specifically mentioned) rather than providing for his master’s household. That servant, too, is called wicked, in contrast to one who is faithful and wise.
- Being a servant is not about recognition or praise. A servant does not expect to be thanked for doing his duty. He doesn’t live with a focus on his achievements. His life is a life of humility. In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul reminds Christians that everything we have has been given to us, so we have nothing worthwhile to boast of or claim as our own. We are to remember that we were without God and without hope (Eph 2:12) until God’s saving grace was given to us.
Jesus didn’t just talk about servants. He lived as a servant. Paul tells us in Philippians 2: 7-8 that Christ “emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Jesus’ life was about doing His Father’s work, submitting to His Father’s will despite complete opposition. He often went without food and drink to spend time in prayer. He knew what it was to be weary, but continued to minister to people. At times He had no place to lay his head.
We have a lot of challenges when it comes to being servants. We can easily get distracted by physical comforts, especially since we are surrounded by them. We begin to think that the things we enjoy, which are blessings from God, are really things we absolutely need. Perhaps this is why Paul advises in 1 Timothy 6:8, “if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content”. We can become focused on our own achievements, looking for recognition and honor from men. We can neglect God’s work because we are fearful about the uncertain times in which we live and the opposition against God and His word. We can be tempted to ignore some of the things that God tells us to do (like forgiving others, which the disciples seemed to struggle with). We might even try to “make it up” by working harder in some other area.
Amid all of these challenges, Jesus calls us to be servants like He was and to follow Him completely. In John 12:25-26, Jesus says, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” This call to serve requires total submission. It means letting go of our lives, which are temporary, to grasp something eternal. Our Master, the Heavenly Father, does honor those who serve him faithfully. Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Notice that we can only do this by the mercies of God. When we receive God’s mercies because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can live in that grace, and everything we do becomes part of our service to Christ. This includes the routine tasks that we may grumble about and the choices we make on Wednesday afternoons, just as it does our Sunday worship. Colossians 3:23 tells us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
Why was I uncomfortable with Jesus’ teaching in Luke 17? Unfortunately, the answer has to do with my pride, selfishness, laziness, and unwillingness to give up the physical comforts I love. It is easy to say I am a servant of God, but it isn’t so easy to really BE one. So, I’m thankful that God included this passage in His word. I’m glad that He continues to correct me and challenge me so that by His mercy I can become a faithful servant.