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Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12 NIV)

Faithful Service

Luke 17:10

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So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

Luke 17:10 NIV

One lesson that Jesus repeatedly had to teach his disciples was about service. They seemed very competitive, each wanting to be the greatest. Or, at the very least, not be thought of as the least. But that was contrary to what Jesus consistently taught them.

In the kingdom of God, it is the one who is least in the eyes of the world and serves others who is greatest (Mark 9:33-35). And Jesus’ teaching in Luke 17:7-10 is in line with this. As a servant, I should not expect thanks when I have done what was expected of me.

The Privilege of Serving

And that can be a challenge. My human nature wants to be recognized for what I do. I want to be appreciated. And it is easy to become discouraged when I am not. And I doubt I am alone in that struggle.

But our service to God, and each other, should not depend on any recognition we might receive. Instead, we should be faithful to the task that our Lord has assigned to us. Recognizing our unworthiness of all that God has done for us. And grateful that he has privileged us to serve him, unworthy as we are.

This is not an argument against showing appreciation for those whose faithful service has blessed you. We should encourage each other in that way. But we should be careful not to make our service dependent on that recognition. Always remember who it is that you serve. And the reward that comes from faithful service (Matt. 25:21).

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.

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