THE PARABLE OF THE UNWORTHY SERVANT

Luke 17:10
So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'

What is being the unworthy servant/who is the unworthy servant?

 

Being the unworthy servant can be said to be a servant who is but not by merit, qualification, ability or social status, but he only is by factors all dependent on the appointing authority. For it is not that having been appointed to serve is because one has done much to be so.

Thus Paul says he was only a servant by way of being counted faithful (1Timothy 1:12). In this, Paul meant that; it was not because he had been faithful, but rather that; he had only been counted faithful. For many others (more so those of the team of the disciples), could have served in Paul's place (by virtue of their status) (having been with Jesus), but that it was him chosen to do so, could have never been because of factors dependent on him.

If it had ever been so, Paul could have never fulfilled any of such factors. For he had been the least of all the apostles and the chief persecutor of the Church (1Corinthians 15:9), (1Timothy 1:13), (Philippians 3:6), (Ephesians 3:8), (Galatians 1:13). For in the human sense, Paul can't have been the figure that he is in the body of Christ then and today. Paul person gives us a very good lesson today. Rather he can be a mirror for many Christians.

Paul cheered the stoning of Stephen

Jesus told the parable of the unworthy servant to the disciples in (Luke 17:7-10). Jesus must have aimed this parable at the disciples because He was preparing them for ministry. He wanted them not only to assume titles (but to acquire the character of the calling).

Jesus must have been well aware (according to how He was teaching) that the human instinct, which is but blend with the satanic pride would easily sway the disciples from the reality of the ministry to rather only consider the titles (as leaders) than to consider it as a calling to serve.

 Who is the greatest?

While at the last supper, an argument cropped up amongst the disciples as to who was to be greater than the other (Luke 22:24). Heated feelings in this regard must have been boiling amongst the disciples, and it only so happened that this was the opportune time to talk over it.

But Jesus replied to them that; the leader amongst you shall be your servant (Luke 22:25-27), (Matthew 20:26; 23:11). In saying this to the disciples, Jesus wanted to deal with the egos (the persona) which tend to override many of us while in positions of leadership.

Jesus was teaching us that it is not rather about being the leader, but what you do as a leader. The very reason Jesus emphasized to the disciples that a leader is one who serves rather than one who is served or one who wilds respect and authority.

Why the unworthy servant?

Yet the unworthy servant is not termed as so for being so. But it is a call to serve with utmost humility. Rather to avoid self aggrandizement (Matthew 6:1-4; 6:5-6). For none is a servant of God by what they believe they can do.

Being a servant of God is not about what the servant has done/can do or can't do. Rather it is not upon one person to be a servant of God. So then, one ought to endeavor to avoid conceit while in the service of God (1Timothy 6:3-4), (Romans 26:12), (Proverbs 26:12).

This calls for a flourishing relationship with God rather than with men. For you have not done enough having served in one way after the other (Luke 17:7-9).

 Does God ever honor His servants?

Yes, God does indeed honor His servants. Jesus taught that if anyone loves to serve Him, then he is to follow Him. Thus serving Jesus is as valuable as following Him. In this, nothing is less or more than the other. It is therefore on this that such a servant will be honored and where Jesus is, such a servant too will be (John 12:26). So then, the unworthy servant is not so because there is no value in him. The term "unworthy servant" serves to make a faithful and obedient servant who submits to the master in all measure.

The power in an example

The unworthy servant is also termed like this so as to instill the character of being exemplary. This drives us to the power in an example. In this, God is the supreme example for us all (Leviticus 19:2). Jesus admonished us by saying the same (Matthew 5:48). For God was always with Jesus because Jesus did the things that pleased the Father. So, God sent us Jesus to be the mediator between man and God, and to be exemplary to us (John 5:19-24).

In the same vein, when the apostles and the disciples learnt from Jesus, they transmitted that to us (1Corinthians 11:1). Paul wonders how one teaches others to live a certain way, but then he practices another way! (Romans 2:1-5, 2:18-23). 

The Apostles and the Disciples then acted accordingly and called on us to be exemplary (1Timothy 4:12). So, if we love to impact peoples' hearts, it is certainly by being exemplary (1Peter 3:1). For many a time, the Apostles intervened by using examples as to put right the wrong perception of scripture by some people. For some had insisted that the gospel was not for the gentiles but Peter corrected them by referring to scripture (Acts 11, 11:15-17). In this, Peter was being exemplary to the flock.

Some Jewish Christians had insisted that gentiles could never be Christians unless they practiced the Jewish rituals and norms. But the Apostles intervened and corrected them referring them to how Jesus never limited Himself only to the Jews. Jesus even went to the Gentiles and performed miracles there (Acts 15:4, 15:6-12).

Jesus washes the disciples' feet

We learn that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-17). And after having washed their feet, He told them why He had done so. He washed their feet so that they could learn from Him. For the disciples were but by and for Jesus. Jesus was their master and teacher. But how He taught and demonstrated to them was to notify them that He had not come to exercise power and authority over them but to show them the way and the right way.

For Jesus came to lead us to the knowledge of God's plan for man. In His teachings then, Jesus meant that it is never about who is who, but who does submit to the will of the Father. So, in all this, Jesus loved to demonstrate to them that; He hadn't simply come to pass on instructions to them, but He was equally to be part and would go ahead of everything He had taught them. For Jesus taught that we are great if we become like children (Luke 9:46-48), (Mark 9:33-37).

Jesus went on to show them how to be like a child by washing their feet. For children are always obedient and submissive. I have learnt this from my children. So, Jesus showed us that this is how one can touch the heart of another. Do you realize that people will take you for what you have done, and not for what status you are?

Jesus washing the disciples' feet

So, when Jesus said and did all this, He was planting and emphasizing the power in setting an example. Thus then, He told them that; just how He had been an example to them, so should they be to others (John 13:15).

The worldly style of leadership

For the mode of leadership of the world is to exercise authority over the rest. Yet this is not so when we serve God (Luke 22:25), (Mark 10:42-45). For it is all service to others and not to be served. A Christian servant only serves so that the master is honored and glorified. That is; we serve only to glorify the master. In this then, we should not be looking for personal honors, but rather we should look for the interests of the master (2Timothy 2:4). This is how well it is for us.

So, in all this, we ought to learn that a servant with the Christian insignia must learn that the reward for our service is of God and not of men. In this then, we must not look for the praise of men but of God. We must serve not expecting material rewards from those we serve if to say.

Our service must be driven by the love of God and not by selfish desires for material gain, and the praise of those we serve. We must serve not expecting to be paid back by anybody else other than our Master who is God. This teaches us not to be selective when we serve. Our service, (as was of Jesus) must be available to any and everybody regardless of any and every factors that may be. We should serve the poor as we ought to serve the rich (with the same spirit and with the same love and care) (Luke 14:12-14).

What example are servants to be?

We are not simply to be examples, but to be of a good example. Say for example not to simply wash people's feet as a ritual (without the Christian substance), but rather to be exemplary even in the heart. That is; we must go as far as being exemplary even to ourselves.

Many Church leaders have done the washing of the feet every Good Friday simply to capture unsuspecting innocent souls but not with the intent our Lord Jesus did it. Rather Jesus did it with all the substance that it is unlike many Church leaders today. But if we make a good example of us, just like Jesus did, then we can wield a lot of authority (rather soft authority) if to say.

Yet if we carry on speaking in the direct opposite of what we demonstrate, it is the very reason that we are simply setting off flames of fire of opposition and disparaging language against us, that we are only left helpless and in need of much more mercy than the would be recipients.

The examples of Moses and Peter


Servants or individuals in positions of leadership for that matter, will tend to influence their followers in many unprecedented covert and overt ways which can be; spiritual or literal, positive and negative. That is to say; leaders will tend to plant their character in those who believe in and follow them.

For consider the case of Moses and the children of Israel when he (Moses) led them to the promised land. On many occasions, they would turn down Moses' instructions directed to them from God.  Upon this, God would punish the rebelling Israelites fiercely.

The children of Israel challenged Moses and the priesthood on whether they would reach the promised land and upon this, they recalled the memories of the life they lived in Egypt (Numbers 14:1-23). God wanted to destroy them but Moses interceded for them before the Lord.

God forgave them, but He insisted that none of them would reach the promised land (Numbers 14:22). Additionally, when Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, rebelled against Moses and had refused to take his instructions, God opened up the earth and it swallowed them up together with their families (Numbers 16:1-36).

But do you take notice if you have not that; what God punished the children of Israel for, is exactly what Moses did? Moses did not reach the promised land (as did the rest) for refusing to take instructions as how they had been presented to Him. That on certain occasions the people refused to take Moses'  instructions from God can't have been an unfounded scenario.

Upon this, we can pretty conclude that the nature of rebellion was equally present in Moses. It only hadn't manifested, but with an opportunity to present itself, such nature submerged.

Moses had been instructed to speak to the rock, not to strike against it (Numbers 20:8). He rather struck the rock (Numbers 20:10-11). Upon this, just like what had been done to all the rebellious, Moses was equally punished by not being able to reach the promised land (Numbers 20:12-13). Moses indeed did not reach the promised land (Deuteronomy 34:1-7).

Now, I hope you no longer have to wonder why Moses kept interceding to God for the rebellious. Unlike one who would relish a moment when God would fiercely punish those who don't tow their line, at least Moses must have known that the fact that he was the leader of the people, their rebellious nature can't have been unfounded.

The sinful nature originates from Adam. Everybody body is thus potentially a sinner. Sin is not unique to a person. Recall that a leader is so both spiritually and literally.

Moses strikes the rock

Another example is one of Peter. Peter is a man known for many controversies. He would make one commendable statement at one point, but he would counter it with an equally negative one immediately after. He had the commendable revelation that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). But he would immediately stand in the way of the mission of salvation (Matthew 16:22-23).

Peter would make commitments which he would never keep. For he had committed that even if it had meant to die with Jesus, he would die with Him (Matthew 26:34-35), (Luke 22:33). But when a moment presented that rather than to be convicted (and may be subsequently to be executed), it required him to deny Jesus, he equally went on to do so as much he had committed to die with Him (Matthew 26:70-74), (Luke 22:60). Now, how different is such a character (of Peter) from that of Ananias and Sapphira?

Ananias and Sapphira had made a commitment to give all the proceeds from the sale of their plot to the service of God (Acts 5:1-11). They hadn't been forced to make such a commitment. For it had been out of their own that they did make that commitment (whether out of sheer excitement or not). But just like their pastor (Peter) who would make many commitments but would rather find it hard to keep them, Ananias and Sapphira did make a commitment which they did not keep.

Now, is it mistaken that Ananias and Sapphira happened to be in Peter's flock, given Peter's life story? Do you wonder that the character in you will equally attract people of the same character? Will you castigate and disparage another rather than to help them overcome that unbecoming character? Couldn't you be the source of both; their successes and failures? Upon this then, try to understand if the troubling character in your flock is not a replica.

What is a servant to be?


Is a servant to be perfect? No. Not at all. For Paul, Peter, Moses and all the rest would have never been servants of God. Neither I nor you would have ever been. Yet such is the very reason that everyone of us whether leader or no leader, we must act to help one another reach the finishing line. For in all our successes, it is never of us. None of us has made it by themselves. For nothing is of anyone, it is all granted to each one from God (1Corinthians 4:7).

Jesus is not limited to anyone. Jesus is not exclusive to one person. Jesus is to everyone who comes to and confesses Him as Lord and Savior. The disciples had wished that Jesus would be exclusive to them. Upon this, they wondered why another person who was not of the team of the disciples preached the gospel and cast out demons like Jesus and His disciples did (Luke 9:49-50), (Mark 9:38-41).

In this, they wondered who else should do this except us (disciples)? Or if there is another, so it is that we are more special than they. But Jesus reminded them that He ha come for one and for the other.

Jesus is equally available to me as He is to you. Who is and who is not is entirely dependent on Him (Jesus). Thus then, a servant in God's Kingdom must be all embracing to all who are committed to him by the master. Rather, he (the servant) must be so to everyone. And in this, what matters is to accomplish the task rather than a display of the persona.

But this also teaches us that each servant is to mind doing well their task, and to ensure it is accomplished rather than to mind others. It matters what pleases the master and not the servant. For a servant is as important to the master as is the follower or believer for that matter.

Conclusively

 
So, in all this, we ought to learn that a servant must listen carefully to and follow the instructions of the master. Say for example; not to serve the master with coffee when he rather wants food. As that, it is pretty important to understand that you are a servant on terms of the appointing authority. Rather it is what the appointing authority wants (2Timothy 2:5-7).

So then, no matter how humanly unbecoming an instruction may appear to you, your duty is not to choose between what to do and what not to do, or what is and what is not. In that then, the duty of the servant is to listen to and follow the instructions. A servant should never reason with the master.

A servant takes instructions from the master

 As a minister then, you ought to conduct yourself carefully and according to how you have been appointed (Ephesians 4:1). Not to take it for granted that you are a servant of God. For according to the world order, it entirely depends on factors to do with the individual. This is  not so with serving God. For serving God is never about wielding authority, but rather to serve. For serving God calls for self sacrifice thus giving up oneself.