A Profitable Servant
Luke 17:10 “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.”
As Christ’s servants, there will be an accounting for each of us…of those good works that He has required from us…(Hebrews 9:27)
But the real value of any work as His servant is….
…..do I do it out of love for Him?
“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
This starts when His disciples ask….”Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)
Luke 17:6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
Here, the Lord says what faith will do…even a little faith…..but He does not say how is it increased….
….until He gives this:
Luke 17:7-9 “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.”
Jesus is saying: true faith works. True faith is never stagnant….it moves forward; or it goes backward (2 Peter 1:9).
In the field we may labor for Christ, His Word, and His gospel call…..
…..but in the house (in our own personal devotions and church services)…..we serve, by ministering to Him….personally.
(I want to point out here, that the Lord is in charge in everything in this parable.
The servant, outside;……and the servant, inside….is just that,…a servant….commanded and guided by the Master.
Some of us Christians bristle at this….because they think a servant of the Lord does things….he does something for God.
No, and yes. No….we can never do anything to add to God, or His goodness.
Yes, we can serve the Lord by being obedient…..and becoming, under HIs guiding hand, devoted to Him.
The Lord pointed this out to Israel when they were burning lots of offerings to Him…..without the heart’s devotion behind them.
Jeremiah 7:21-24 “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; Put your offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
But this thing I commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. (Exodus 15:25-26)
But they harkened not, nor inclined their ear,….”)
Our “services” to God, are a exercising of our faith….both in the world and in our personal devotions.
The question becomes….how can I become a profitable servant? And what does this have to do with increasing our faith?
We are only profitable servants as we become, under His hand, able to minister to the Lord’s satisfaction….by letting Him have His way and will with us.
Again, I want to point out that faith “sees” God…..it is the instrument by which we know God in our lives.
It is a gift from God, implanted by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again…..but it is to grow….mature in the knowledge of God,…..and in love to God.
Both are “services” to God.
The more we know of God in our lives, the more we are able to go through the trials and tribulations in this world, by faith….it has increased.
The more we place ourselves at God’s disposal, the more we learn how precious He regards us….our faith has increased, as our love has increased.
So how to increase our faith?
….Jesus says: use it, by doing the obediences I place in front of you….
…and use it, by submitting to My personal discipline, and fall in love with Me.
Our personal intimacy with God is to grow.
We start out as babes in faith….being helped to do everything.
Then we become servants of God, by faith…..learning to submit to Him in everything….but by each obedience we have the ability to gain in fellowship.
Then we become mature workers of God…..by realizing that it is Him we are serving,…..in any situation, in any place, with anyone….He becomes the main reason for our existence.
We become “profitable servants”, by becoming what He has purposed for us to be…..not by what we do (The Lord has provided all we need to do every good work He calls us to)……
….but by becoming devoted to Christ Himself.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 