Creator, Father, King #206

We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED a movie or TV show about the daily lives of British aristocracy? It’s always fascinating to watch the decorum that servants had to display around their masters.

Can you imagine if, after serving an elaborate seven-course meal, the chef suddenly burst through the dining room doors and shouted, “Booyah! I really nailed it tonight, didn’t I?” with hollers and high fives to all his fellow staff before he and the butler capped things off with a celebratory dance routine?

Every jaw in the room would crash to the floor.

Servants aren’t supposed to expect special recognition or draw attention to themselves for simply doing their duty. This was Jesus’ point in Luke 17:7-10:

When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, “Come in and eat with me”? No, he says, “Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.” And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, “We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.”

There is much to learn from this passage.

What’s It Mean?

No one likes being called a servant. But if you are a Christian, that’s what you are—and an unworthy one, at that! Christ ransomed you from slavery to sin and death with his blood.

History is littered with wicked, oppressive human masters, but every Christian’s Master is righteous in all his ways. It’s a great privilege to serve the Lord.

God treats believers far differently than the impersonal, businesslike nature of most masters. He is a loving heavenly Father who adopts us as his spiritual children (Galatians 4:5), and “his unfailing love for us is powerful” (Psalm 117:2).

While human masters hire their servants for daily chores (some meaningful, others menial), our heavenly Master lovingly chose all believers “before he made the world” (Ephesians 1:4) and “created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). Then he empowers us with unique gifts through his Spirit (1 Corinthians 12).

What a privilege to serve the Master of heaven and earth!

Now What?

If you’re not currently serving God somewhere, pray about it and ask your parents or another trusted adult where you could minister to others.

Did You Know?

God will reward our faithful service one day with an eternal crown of glory and honor (1 Peter 5:4)!