So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” – Luke 17:10
In the modern church, a dangerous notion has crept in: the idea that our obedience to God is some sort of grand gesture, a favor we bestow upon Him, as if we’re doing Him a service by following His commands. This is a profound misunderstanding of our relationship with the Creator. Obedience to God is not an optional courtesy; it is a non-negotiable duty, the very essence of what it means to be a servant of the Most High.
In Luke 17:10, Jesus delivers a sobering corrective to such self-congratulatory attitudes. He paints a vivid picture of a servant who, after laboring all day in the fields, comes in to prepare his master’s meal and serve him before attending to his own needs. Does the master thank the servant for doing what was expected? Of course not! This would be unheard of in Jesus’ day. The servant is merely fulfilling his role, meeting the baseline requirements of his position. Jesus applies this to us: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Let’s be clear – obedience is not a bargaining chip we have before God to curry favor or earn special privileges. It is the natural response of a heart redeemed by grace, a heart that recognizes the infinite chasm between our sinfulness and God’s holiness. What can we possibly offer God that He does not already possess? As Job 41:11 declares, “Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” The air in our lungs, the strength in our bones, the very ability to obey – these are all gifts from His sovereign hand. To obey Him is simply to return to Him what He is rightfully owed.
Do not mistake Jesus’ words in Luke 17:10 as a dismissal of our worth in His eyes. The cross stands as the eternal testament to our value to God – He paid the ultimate price to redeem us from the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13). But that redemption does not make obedience optional or praiseworthy in and of itself. It is the expected response of those who have been bought with so great a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). To think otherwise is to elevate ourselves above our station, as if God should be impressed by our meager efforts. What is our obedience compared to the perfect, sinless submission of Christ, who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross?” (Philippians 2:8).
Yet, in a staggering display of grace, God does not leave us in the cold reality of our duty. Though we are truly unworthy servants, He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Instead, He promises to reward those who faithfully serve Him. In Matthew 25:21, the master says to his servant, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” This is not because we’ve done anything extraordinary, but because God, in His infinite mercy, chooses to reward our imperfect obedience with eternal blessings. What we owe Him in duty, He repays with grace beyond measure.
So let us cast aside any notion that our obedience is a favor to God. Let us approach His commands with humility, recognizing that we are but servants doing what we were created to do. And let us marvel at the grace of a God who, though He owes us nothing, promises us everything in Christ. Obey Him – not to earn His favor, but because it is your duty, your privilege, and your highest calling as His redeemed.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for any pride that creeps into my obedience, as if I could offer You anything You do not already possess. Help me to serve You with a humble heart, recognizing that my duty is to obey Your commands. Thank You for Your grace, which rewards my imperfect service with eternal promises. May my life reflect the faithful obedience of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 