The New Testament is clear that the model for the Lord’s people in this world is servanthood. The texts are numerous and so clear they leave no room for argument. We have the Lord Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and telling us to do likewise (John 13). We have His testimony that He is among us as One who serves (Luke 22:27) and He came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28).

Jesus said, “He who would be great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:27).

In epistle after epistle, Paul identifies himself as the servant or even slave of Jesus.

But no text speaks as pointedly to our being servants–and how to do that well–as Luke 17:7-10.

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come straight in and sit down to your meal.’ Instead, you will tell him, ‘Get something ready for my supper; gird yourself and serve me till I have finished my dinner. And after that, you can have your own meal.’

Does he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

And so with you. When you have done all the things commanded you, say to yourselves, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have merely done our duty.’

There is nothing else quite like this in the Bible. This passage–this parable–is not found anywhere else in Scripture.

Why is it important? And why would I flat out claim that it’s the best statement on our role as servants to be found anywhere in Scripture?

This scripture cures a hundred problems within the church before they get started. It heads off ego problems, competitiveness, laziness, self-centeredness, comparisons, and other such divisive forces before they can take root in the congregation of the Lord’s people.

THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR STATED LESSONS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN THIS TEXT, AND AT LEAST THREE UNSTATED ONES.

1. We are the Lord’s servants.

Not as His equal, His associate, His partner, His co-pilot, or His advisor, but as His servant who exists for one purpose and one purpose only: to do His will.

The constant prayer on our lips ought to be the first prayer from the mouth of Saul of Tarsus: “What will you have me to do?” (Acts 22:10)

2. We are His servants forever.

We read in Revelation 22:3–that makes it the final chapter in God’s Word–that in Heaven, “His servants shall serve Him.”

This is no temporary aberration, no boot camp trial for God’s children. We are His servants forever and ever. Anyone having a problem with that will surely not want to go to Heaven where that seems to be the eternal job assignment.

3. We are to consider ourselves unworthy servants.

Scripture has a good bit to say about how each person in God’s family views himself. The word here is that we are to look upon ourselves as unworthy servants of Jesus.

Philippians 2:3 commands that we “each esteem others as better than ourselves.” The Williams translation makes that: “practice treating one another as your superiors.”

4. We consider ourselves unworthy servants who are merely doing our duty.

The temptation is to see ourselves as more than others, our role as greater than mere servants, and our work as more important than what others perform.

Another temptation is to feel we have “earned” certain rights and rewards. Jesus nips this in the bud by commanding us to view our production as merely doing our duty and nothing else.

However….

The subject is incomplete without a reminder of at least three unstated truths.

1. God does not view us as unworthy servants.

In fact, we have the very words of the Lord who at some distant future time shall say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many.” (Matthew 25:21,23)

2. We are not to think of others as unworthy servants.

“In honor,” Paul instructed, “we are to give preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).

3. We are to highly esteem others for their contributions to the ministry.

Obeying this teaching–and we need to emphasize that doing so is a daily challenge, not the work of a one-time committal at the altar–solves a host of problems within the congregation before they begin.

Ego problems. The last church I served used to name a “Senior Adult of the Year” for special honor. The practice was discontinued when some who were overlooked complained.

Pride infections. “We too are holy,” I can hear Moses’ sister and brother saying to him. “Moses, you take too much upon yourself. This is a committee-led enterprise, and you’re turning it into a one-man show.” God thought otherwise. (Numbers 12)

Competitiveness outbreaks. We are better than you. Bigger than you. Baptize more than you do. Have bigger mission offerings. (This carnal quality is aided and abetted by denominational offices and publications publicizing and ranking the churches.) Pastors clamor for recognition and election to denominational offices.

Seeing ourselves as unworthy servants, only doing our duty, will end most of the divisiveness in congregations. An unworthy servant is not upset when no one knows his name or singles him out for recognition. He’s a servant; he did not expect any more than the opportunity to do his job.

Along the way as I’ve served some of the Lord’s choicest churches, it has been my privilege to encounter a number of men and women with servant hearts. They prefer working in the background, they eschew recognition, they get their greatest pleasure when people are blessed and the Lord’s work flourishes. When all is done, they merely turn around and look for whatever is to be done next.

The ultimate test of a servant is how you react when treated like one.

–When you are ordered around by the sorriest member of the church.

–When you are once again bypassed for recognition because someone with ties to the official board was chosen for the honors this year.

–When the names of all the workers on a project are called from the pulpit but yours was left off.

–When the nominating committee forgot to ask you if you would continue in a position because they just assumed you would.

–When they get around to recognizing you, but spell your name wrong on the plaque or certificate.

–When members who do far less are given much more recognition and appreciation than you.

Dear Father,

Give me the heart of a servant who delights in making others successful and lives only to please the Master.

Give us a churchful of servant-hearted members, where no one clamors for his rights or feels slighted when they were passed over.

Make us a congregation of sweet-spirited people-helpers. Make us like Jesus who laid aside all the glories of Heaven in order to go to the cross for us.

Empower us to submit to one another, to serve one another, and then when we have done it well, to serve some more. May we never tire of well-doing since Your plan is that this will be our full-time occupation for eternity.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.