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.”
– Luke 17: 7-10 (NLT)
In this mini parable, Jesus paints a picture that challenges our expectations. A servant comes in after a long day of hard work – either plowing the fields or tending sheep. Naturally, we might expect this servant to be met with rest, appreciation, or comfort. But instead, the master expects continued service. This isn’t a moment to receive praise or rest. It’s a reminder that there’s still work to be done. While this might feel harsh to our modern sensibilities, Jesus uses this story to give us a profound lesson on what it means to serve God.
Serving God isn’t a transaction. We don’t serve Him with the expectation of being thanked, praised, or rewarded in this life. True service comes from an understanding that there is always more to do for our Master and there’s always a way to do it. Even if we cannot serve in one area, we can contribute in another. The field may change, but the heart of a servant remains the same. If you can’t plow the fields, perhaps you can prepare the food. If you can’t tend to the sheep, maybe you can tend to the needs of those who can. Service continues, not out of a sense of earning merit, but because there is always work in the kingdom of God.
Jesus directs us to the right attitude in serving. It is a posture where His pleasure takes precedence over our comfort. It is one where His people’s needs come before our own desires. His name is exalted, not our reputation. And in this type of humble service, we do not seek applause, for it feels unthinkable for us to demand praise from the One who gave everything for us.
Our service, in comparison to Christ’s sacrifice, is less than a single drop of water in all the earth’s oceans combined. Yet in his kindness and grace, He will one day congratulate and reward His servants. He will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” even though our efforts pale in comparison to His work in and through us. It has nothing to do with earning His approval, and everything to do with living in awe of what He has done.
This kind of humility isn’t about self-deprecation or denying that God works through us. It’s about seeing His overwhelming grace and mercy and responding with joyful obedience. When we serve with the right heart, we see our service as a privilege, not a burden. In a world where many are tempted to project this super-Christian image, let us be content to be called unprofitable servants, not in a self-loathing way, but in humble gratitude. When we measure ourselves against Jesus, we see our rightful place… not in comparison to others, but in awe of the One who served us first.
May we find joy today in serving our Master, knowing that it is all by His grace. Let us give our all, not to be noticed, but because we are loved beyond measure!
Former Blackout Artist 