We get trophies for championships, gifts for birthdays,
money for work, grades for class, certificates for achievements, high-fives,
hugs, handshakes, applause, cards, prizes, plaques, banners. We hang them, frame them, case them, bank
them. Some we earn, some are handed out.
Luke 17:7 introduces us to a servant who plows and looks
after sheep. He sounds to be someone
that deserves some money or form of payment for his services, but the response
of the master is different than what most of us would consider adequate. In verses 8-9 the master doesn’t offer a sit
down dinner. Instead he asks the servant
to prepare his supper and wait on him while he dines. After this interaction, the servant offers a
most humble response in verse 10, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done
our duty.”
The first time I read through this, I thought the master
could be a little nicer to the servant.
The servant had after all done as he was told to do according to verse
9. But what about the master that was
born in a manger, the master that
successfully resisted temptation for 33 years, the master that healed the sick
and raised the dead, the master that endured ridicule from his people, the
master that was beaten and whipped, the master that died on Calvary, and the
master that defeated death three days later and is preparing a home in heaven
for us. The response given by the
servant was the dagger of conviction straight to the heart. How often do I think I deserve more because
of the “good works” I do? We doing our
duty will never earn us a bit of thanks, but because of God’s grace extend
freely to us we get to experience riches as sons and daughters through Jesus
Christ. (Ephesians 1:6)
So what is our duty?
First of all, know him.
(Romans 10:9-10) God wants a
relationship with each and every one of us.
He’s not willing that any should perish.
Willingly accept the gift of salvation he offers.
And now what are we called to do as servants of Jesus? (2 Corinthians 4:5)
Love. (John 13:34-35)
Forgive. (Ephesians
4:32)
Seek him. (Matthew
6:33)
Make him known. (John
17:26)
Be witnesses. (Acts
1:8)
Pray. (Philippians
4:6)
Give. (2 Corinthians
9:6-7)
Worship. (Colossians
3:16-17)
Meditate on his word.
(Joshua 1:9)
Wait. (Psalm 5:3)
Walk in His ways.
(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Fear him. (Proverbs
1:7)
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and summed
them up in Matthew 22:37-39 to love God and love others. And if you don’t know who your neighbor is to
love as yourself, the Good Samaritan had it right in Luke 10:25-37. By no means is this list exclusive of what
else we can do.
I get the privilege each year of reading thousands of camp
applications of eager kids wanting to come during the summer. As you may or may not know, many of these
kids are earning their way back to camp by volunteering and being involved in
their community. As John says in 3 John
1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the
truth.” The kids of Northwest Arkansas
are doing some incredible things, so now it’s your turn.
So will we ever complete our duty of love? Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain
outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” Will we ever earn anything? No. We
deserve death and receive grace. So
whether you’re at camp, school, a job, with family, with friends, with enemies,
buying groceries, at the bank, in a theater, walking, driving or bike riding,
fulfill your continuous duty to love God and love others.
Michelle
Q: What do snowmen
like to do on the weekend?
A: Chill out. Hope you had a great weekend!
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