Let’s face it. We don’t really like being servants. We don’t like to serve others and we don’t like to be under another’s authority. For us in the U.S. much of that stems from the 1960’s when everyone was told to question authority. We were told that anyone over 30 was the enemy. Now no one born in the 1960’s is under 30, but that’s another matter-the notion still made its way into our psyche and continues to influence people today.
It’s also just human nature-a nature the disciples battled with constantly. We want position, power, or some combination of both. Look at Mark 10:35 for an example of that.
The two types of authority Jesus mentions from the world are: "lord it over" and "exercise authority". To "lord over" means to force into subjugation - to control. To "exercise authority" means "to have full privilege." So I tell you what you can’t do, and I also force you to do what I want you to do.
Jesus says in His kingdom it is those that serve all that are numero uno. And He leads by example: Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ESV
So sometimes we fall into "false servanthood." This is where we act really humble but deep down we do what we want and expect others to do what we want as well. I’ve run into pastors like that. You wouldn’t dare tell them anything contrary to what they wanted to hear because, after all, they were just humble servants of God and must float above the ground a little and glow like Moses did. Remember, you are a tool, not the carptenter.
Here in Luke Jesus paints a far different picture of the servant, but one we can glean a lot of as we seek to follow after Jesus’ character and example.
Verses 5 - 6
The disciples asked for more faith. Perhaps it was because they realized they couldn’t forgive as Jesus commanded them in the prior section. Or perhaps they figured that it was by faith that you really got things done in Jesus’ kingdom, and so to be a mover and shaker there they needed more of whatever Jesus had-like a super-charged V-8 instead of a standard four cylinder engine.
A Mulberry tree was about 25-30 feet tall. You’d think it’d take an awful lot of faith to move it. But Jesus says it takes only a little. That’s because its not really us, but God. It reminds me of a human exoskeleton. They had them in one of the Matrix movies and they look sort of like Transformers with humans piloting them. The idea is that you are a weak human but control a very powerful machine that can do what you can’t. Now God is not in our control like a machine, but when we move in concert with His will then we can accomplish much.
What it takes is not the power to do it but knowing the person who has the power and then asking. Like a powerful computer-it won’t do anything unless something is inputted. James says "you have not because you ask not." Further he said:
James 5:16-18 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. ESV
So know the person with the power, ask them to exert some of that power for you - and finally to do something the powerful person wants to do. You can’t make en elephant move unless you convince him it is in his best interest. God is not an elephant, and in reality we need to find out what is on God’s heart in order to us to then pray for those things.
See, it’s really not about us at all, and I think it’s fitting that when the disciples asked for more faith Jesus told them they didn’t need a lot of faith, but they did need to ask and when they asked for more faith He told them to serve!
Verses 7 - 10
Jesus does not mean to demean the servant, only that he knows his duty and his place.
I think there are times when we act like the servant in Jesus’ example. We’ve been out in the fields that are white for harvest all day, slogging amongst the unwashed, serving our little hearts out. Then we want to take a break and be served by the Lord. It’s like we say "God I’ve worked hard for you, now I’m going to kick back and expect you to bless me in return."
I’m not saying that God won’t bless you, but do you expect, even demand it? Another mistake we make is that we as servants start to think we own the operation. It’s subtle but can creep into any Christian’s life. We look around and see the wonderful things that God is doing and start to believe the lie that we are actually doing it and God is just lucky to have us on His side. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus Himself said "Apart from Me you can do nothing."
The word "servant" appears 1,060 times in the ESV version, 980 in the KJV. It appears 163 times in the New Testament ESV. Many times, like here in Luke 17, the word is "bondservant" which means a servant for life by choice. But the word can also be translated "slave" as in 1 Corinthians 7:22 "Likewise he who was called free is the Lord’s slave."
To learn about being a servant of God, let’s look at three examples:
Look at examples of servants:
Abraham-God asked him to sacrifice his only son, his most prized and loved possession. He considered God’s Word more important than his knowledge. (Genesis 22)
Moses-didn’t want to lead the people, but did it because God told him to in the burning bush (Exodus 3).
Paul-had position and power but gave it all up for the real Messiah when He met Jesus (Acts 9).
Jeremiah-didn’t have a single convert, yet continued to speak God’s Word in obedience to God’s command (Jeremiah 1).
What do these three have in common?
God spoke to them
They had a personal relationship with God
God called them
God gave them a difficult task and the power to accomplish it
Accomplishing the task meant personal suffering
The task was more important than they were
How to have a Servant’s Heart
1. I’m dead & I’m weak
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ESV
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ESV
Paul’s credentials were his weaknesses. While others were trying to be impressive by their visions and rhetorical skills Paul spread the gospel and suffered for it-and proudly.
2. I’m owned
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ESV
3. I’m a surrogate
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses , so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ESV
Colossians 1:27-29 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory . 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. ESV
4. I’m a witness
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ESV
Conclusions
So why would anyone want to be a servant of God given what we’ve talked about? I want to give you five reasons why we do it.
1. Out of Gratitude for what God has done for us
2. So that Others May Come to know that same grace and mercy
3. Serving God gives us Purpose - our first purpose was as a caretaker of God’s creation, now we get to take care of His new created beings
4. God’s Nature is to serve, so as we serve we are being like Him
5. Rewards do come to those who serve, though we are storing them up for later
Consider it a joy to be a part of the Master’s household.
2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ESV
Psalms 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ESV
Don’t focus so much on power and position as much as the doing the task and worshipping the Lord.
The rewards are sweet, but having the privilege of being used by God should be reward enough until we meet Him in the clouds and He says to us: "well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matt 25:21)
