Unprofitable Servants

“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.” Luke 17:10

If you are unfamiliar with this verse, it might startle you. Our society is all about celebrating ourselves, but Jesus said we ought to obey God, not to make ourselves look good, not to gain approval or gratitude, but because it is right.

A servant in Jesus’ day would not expect to come in from the fields and be served a meal by his master, rather, he would be expected to serve his master before eating his own meal. This was not something that would draw the gratitude of the master, but simply the order of things.

There are many places in the Bible that speak of gratitude and kindness and treating one another with kindness, and this passage does not contradict them. It is concerned not with the relationship between earthly masters and servants, but between Christians and our wise and loving Master.

You see, God is worthy to be served, and in our human frailty, we truly are “unprofitable” servants, who often fail to do even the easiest of tasks God asks of us.

Within the church especially, it is common for us to expect praise or gratitude for our service, or at least that it be noticed and appreciated. But who are we really serving? Whatever areas of service, are we serving the church, our fellow Christians, or God Himself? And if we are serving God, which one of us is truly deserving of praise, the servant or the Master?

Again, it isn’t wrong to express gratitude or appreciation for someone’s service, but as we serve, our hearts should be focused upward, knowing that God sees our service and is pleased as we obey Him.

Whenever I find myself getting offended or frustrated because something I have done goes unnoticed or unappreciated, I take it as a warning: my service has become man-focused instead of God-focused. When I stop and consider who God is, I realize that my pride is the problem, not other people’s lack of notice or appreciation.

Now, how about you? Who are you serving today?

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be move, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28