Winning Wisdom: Unprofitable Servants

Topic: Unprofitable Servants [Wednesday, 19th April 2017]

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:10

In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus gives His disciples an illustration of a servant who worked all day in the field for his master, when he returns home, he was not allowed to rest, but was given even more work to do for his master, including waiting for the master to finish eating dinner before he could sit to eat. Then, Jesus goes ahead to tell His disciples that they are such servants, whom after working for their master are given even more work, with no reward, as it were. In modern times, we have been so made to believe that we deserve a reward for every work we do, that we forget the admonition of Christ to lay not our treasures where rust and thieves have access to them (Mathhew 6:19-20).

Now, it is true that a labourer is worthy of his wages, and he shall be the first partaker of the harvest, but when we serve God with our focus on the reward to be gotten from such service, we become no more than the hypocrites, whom Christ condemned in Matthew 6:1-2. Whenever they give alms, they "sound a trumpet" before men. Of which Chist said in verse two of Matthew 6, "they have their reward". He, however, also encourages us that while we work, our heavenly Father knows, and would reward us openly (Matthew 6:4). Paul also tells of men who seek only reward for themselves in Philippians 3:18-19. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."

In working for God we should wholly seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and every other thing will be added to you (Matthew 6:33), for God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love (Hebrews 6:10). But we must count ourselves as unprofitable servants who have only but done our duty.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You that You counted me worthy to work for You. Dear Lord, help me daily to remember that I am an unprofitable servant, and that all I receive is by your grace and mercy, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

By Esun Tekeme