Luke 17:3-10 - I know my place ~ I am a Servant!

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

 

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.

 

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

 

So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

 

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

 

But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?

 

Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

  

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.

A servant, serving on a subway!
photo by Louis Oliveira, used under the creative commons license.
check out more photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79326374@N00/

Being a servant is what I am called to be.  Jesus points out that after a servant has spent the whole day doing "servant things," he doesn't relax for the evening. Rather, he prepares the supper for his lord and then after all is said and done on his lord's behalf, the servant can tend to his own supper.  He does all of this without expecting the thanks of the one he serves. He just does it because it is his duty and he knows his place.

I need to cultivate an attitude like that.  I do not serve the Lord, looking for Kudos from Heaven. I don't seek an "attaboy" when I do those things I am supposed to do, like forgive those who sin against me or spend time in prayer.  These things I do because I am a servant of the Lord and I know my place.

Here's the thing, though. God, Who is rich in mercy, not only does acknowledge my "work" for Him but ends up serving me! He washed the feet of the disciples, a job for the lowest of servants and He lowers Himself by attending to my prayers. I don't deserve such attention and yet He gives it.  O Lord, thank you for your humility and my I ever be Your humble servant. Amen.