Luke 17:7-10 (Unworthy Servants)

UNWORTHY SERVANTS - "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’" (Luke 17:7-10).

Expectations. Entitlement. These are words which should invoke great fear and trembling within the heart of a Christian. The concepts are pervasive throughout culture. Yet, in the church, we are universally susceptible to failure in these areas. The simple truth is that while God does NOT need us, we DO need him and are indebted to Christ for the honor and privilege of serving Him.

Christ's teaching here is profound. While it appears cold and callous on the outside, it drives home a deeper message which centers around our elevation of self over God. In its most simplistic form, Jesus is teaching the first of the ten commandments God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20) and admonishing "self" idolatry.

Jesus said plainly, "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:25). In other words, if a man seeks fulfillment in any fashion other than the sanctifying grace and mercy of God, he has forfeited the very essence of who he is.

The apostle Paul put it this way, "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23). Put aside all stumbling blocks which seek to ensnare your mind, body, heart and soul. Embrace your new identity in Christ and cast off your desire for man's approval, morals and standards.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

The quicker we begin to recognize the state we have placed ourselves in and the enemy's schemes set to ensnare and destroy us, the more apt we are to utilize the way of escape God provides through every trial and temptation. For as Paul reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

However, in order to seek victory, we must come to terms with this question: In whom or what do I find my value/meaning/purpose? Before addressing this question, it is worth mentioning that the mere audacity of asking such a question is self-serving and self-elevating. Who can stand before an almighty God and declare that his life is his own?

"But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?" (Psalm 76:7).

What value we have is not our own. It has been graciously given to us by our Father in Heaven who loves us with patience which surpasses all understanding. If we have been bought with a price for the redemption of our sins, what right do we have to even think we have value apart from Jesus?

Our only value is what God the Father graciously gives us in and through Christ. Unfortunately, we seek to find value in the things of this world, yet that is the underlying theme Jesus addresses in Luke 17:7-10. Praise God that He has given us His Word, the Bible, as our only compass to direct us in the way of righteousness and warn us of potential dangers known as sin!

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Moreover, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness," (2 Timothy 3:16) therefore we cannot devalue it based upon its authorship. It is not man's words, but the Spirit's teaching.

Honestly speaking, we pick and choose what we LIKE to hear from the Bible rather than what we NEED to hear.

Like a spiritual buffet, we tend to consume things which taste good and decline reading passages that cast a shining light of conviction on the sins we knowingly participate in. We would rather place a hierarchical division upon our sins, devaluing those which cast a magnifying glass upon the sick condition of our hearts.

We emphatically choose not to relinquish our sinful behavior because we find safety and security in their superficial byproduct of self-worth. Abandoning and surrendering them to the cross of Christ presents a tremendous weight of anxiety upon our hearts because we believe that we cannot survive without them.

They are a self-imposed haven of refuge, but God is graciously calling us to abandon self-help and place our hope in Him alone. Therefore, we must call a spade a spade and not justify what the Bible clearly states as sinful behavior, lest we drive ourselves deeper into a post-modernistic pit of man-made religion.

"And he said, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person'" (Mark 7:20-23).

"Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy" (Romans 13:13).

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

These are simply a few examples of the myriad of Scripture passages that warn of sinful behavior (i.e. unrighteousness). As such, let us resist the urge to sugar-coat or justify our sins as anything but what God's Word declares. Let us abandon our desire to mock Scripture by blame-shifting our sins on others or justifying them in any way.

Through Adam, we were born into sin and consequently choose to sin. Nevertheless, must be willing to bear the responsibility of our actions as well. If we hold firm to sins which ensnare and ultimately destroy us, we pledge allegiance to a false sense of value and self-worth and misunderstand the mystery of Christ's teaching in Luke 17:7-10.

Eternal value comes only through Jesus who once declared, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26).

We have eternal value to the Father, but it is conditionally based on whether we trust in ourselves and live our lives in self-idolatry or surrender all and live in thanksgiving and obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The entire Gospel message boils down to this decision, and it is one which need not be taken lightly. We can find peace knowing we have value in our lives, but it must be taken in context and perspective with the understanding that we are unworthy servants doing what we have been commanded by Christ.

The key to breaking strongholds that give false testimony of self-worth in our lives is to admit we have no power over sin and death to relinquish our sinful, fleshly desires which declares we are owed something.

If we truly received recognition for the choices we have made, we would not be able to celebrate our achievements because we would have already received the just punishment for our sins which preceded our self-declared, glorious achievements.

Undoubtedly, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:16). Therefore, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence because we know through grace by faith "that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ...because by works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16).

"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:7).

Universally, all who claim the cross of Christ for salvation can rest peacefully, "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). We simply must humble ourselves in repentance and obedience and hold firm to the words of Paul as our reverent prayer unto God.

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

Only then will we find victory over sin and death and live with an assurance of value, meaning and purpose that gives eternal peace and transcends all logical understanding.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 15, 2011 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.