Unprofitable Servants
Luke 17: 7-10 NKJV
[7] 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’? [8] 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’? [9] Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. [10] 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.’ ”
How Great is our Lord to heed our prayers.
How Glorious is He to respond in such a manner that is worthy of praise!
When we come into faith in Jesus Christ things in our lives should reflect the amazing work of Redemption.
Redeeming the spirit of corrupt man through a selfless Sacrifice by a perfect and Holy God!
Salvation through faith, Restoration through repentance.
We don’t often speak about what is required from us. We have gotten hung up on the FREE Gift of Salvation.
The Salvation that Jesus offers has never been or ever will be bought by anything other than His perfect Sacrifice! No works that the hand of man can perform that could ever offer such a gift!
There is an expectation that we seem to miss, the work of the building of the Kingdom of God.
Why?
There is one way that our society has drastically changed.
We live lives of expectations.
We have been taught that when we work we get paid.
With perseverance we endure.
If we give, we expect something in return.
If you participated you deserve a trophy.
The more we have, the greater love God has for us.
We feed our hearts this junk. And if we are not rewarded by the things of this world we question The Lord’s faithfulness to us.
Health, wealth and prosperity in accordance with this world should never be a priority in the heart and mind of a Saved soul.
Mark 8:36-37 NKJV
[36] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? [37] Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Unfortunately many have treated Jesus Christ in the very same manner, for our profit and gain.
The great hymn should sum up the heart of a Follower of Christ.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
What more can you ask of Him after He has redeems your soul!
In The Gospel of Mark Chapter 8 we read of gentile people coming to Him. They sit at the Precious feet of Jesus. Three days He pours the Kingdom of Heaven into their open and willing hearts.
They gave up even the basic need for humans to survive,food.
And in His compassion Jesus calls His Disciples. They gather bread and fish, again, He Blesses it. It multiples.
They eat and are full!
What more could these people ask for?
We tend to get a bit greedy with the Blessings from God.
Nothing is off limits.
Nothing is too big. Wealth and prosperity are definitely on the table.
“Nothing is too big because we serve a Big God.” How many tongues have proclaimed that?
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
[19] And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We read this and it has been taught and reinforced that God wants prosperity for us. He wants us to be successful, to have a good life.
Never suffer and never lack.
This verse refers to the generosity that was shown to the Apostle Paul by the Philippians. Paul thanks them and then assures them that The Lord will continue to meet their needs to continue the work of the Kingdom of God. To further the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Not riches according to this world but the riches in accordance to His riches in Glory!
A true faithful servant of Jesus Christ knows and understands exactly what has been given them.
Saved from the clutches of sin. Being forgiven for those sins.
Being washed clean. Guilt and shame gone.
Purified and acceptable to the Throne of Heaven.
A new Spiritual birth. A second chance to serve. Exchanging an Eternity of separation from The Father in Heaven to actually being reunited with Him for that same Eternity! Not having to endure the Wrath of God.
WHAT MORE SHALL WE ASK FOR!
Sometimes His riches come to us in the form of faith.
Sometimes His riches come in the form of mercy.
It comes as grace and not currency!
But the unregenerate heart wants the safety and security of this world.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ and His Sacrifice for your Soul is enough payment!
To bask and sit in the Heavenly places with Him is our reward!
I understand that so many have needs.
Needs are different than wants.
I understand that Psalm 37:4 says that He shall give to the desires of your heart.
If the desire of your heart is success and prosperity, you will get your reward here!
But if it’s to seek closeness to God.
If it’s to obey God’s will and seek His Holiness and righteousness, He will give in abundance.
Jesus is the great source of joy and total fulfillment in our lives. Even in the darkest of nights even a small speck of His Glory will put the darkness to shame!
God is faithful, all-knowing, and loves people. He knows our heart’s needs and is willing to satisfy them. But God may not fulfill our desires in our way or in our time.
So what must we do?
Luke 17:10
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.’ ”
We are unprofitable servants because the riches of this world can never come close in comparison to what we have gained through Christ!
What has He commanded us to do?
Our duty is to preach this life and soul reviving Gospel and to make Disciples of Jesus Christ!
Jesus has given us our reward in advance!
His Crucified, broken body was the payment. His Resurrection is our reward!
What more can we ask?
So we work for this Kingdom of Heaven. We work not for payment.
We serve without expecting more.
The Lord Jesus Christ had died on a Cross to give us a reward to sustain our faith in Him and His power.
So what is our reward?
When we put our hands to the plow and till the hardened soil of man’s hearts and sprinkle the Life of the Gospel. Water it with love. The allow the Holy Spirit comes to give the increase as we stand and watch to see another soul come to faith in Christ.
If there’s a reward you seek here on this earth let it be that!
Determine to be an unprofitable servant of Jesus Christ, because our reward and the profit of Heaven awaits!
Pastor Ed