BEING A PROFITABLE SERVANT (3 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Luke 17:5-10
This content is part of a series.
Being A Profitable Servant (3 of 4)
Series: Servants of Christ
Jeff Strite
Luke 17:5-10
OPEN: The KJV translates Luke 17:10 this way: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.'"
I don't want to be an "unprofitable servant".
I want to be a profitable servant for God.
Don't you?
So, what kind of things might I do to be useful to God?
What would you expect I'd have to do to be a "profitable" servant?
(allow audience time to respond)
That's all great stuff!
Those are the kinds of things you'd expect from a profitable servant.
But then we encounter THIS verse that says you can do all the good things you want to do… and still not be profitable for God.
In this story Jesus tells us about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock. And after he works all day long, he comes into the house… and before he doesn't even get to set down and rest and eat his own meal. Instead, he is required to serve his master his meal FIRST. Then he can sit down and eat and rest.
And after doing all that work - all day long - there's no word of thanks, no gratitude. And Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.
Then Jesus says to us: When YOU have done everything you were commanded to do you should say "I'm an UNPROFITABLE servant. I've only done my duty."
(pause)
That's not right!
I've been brought up to believe that if you put in a day's work you should get a day's pay. And I've read enough psychology to know that many workers NEED positive reinforcement. They need to know they're appreciated. They need to hear that they've done a good job. Because no matter how much money a person is paid being appreciated is far more important to most people than how big their check is.
But here we have Jesus saying: "Sorry. You don't get a ...
Series: Servants of Christ
Jeff Strite
Luke 17:5-10
OPEN: The KJV translates Luke 17:10 this way: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.'"
I don't want to be an "unprofitable servant".
I want to be a profitable servant for God.
Don't you?
So, what kind of things might I do to be useful to God?
What would you expect I'd have to do to be a "profitable" servant?
(allow audience time to respond)
That's all great stuff!
Those are the kinds of things you'd expect from a profitable servant.
But then we encounter THIS verse that says you can do all the good things you want to do… and still not be profitable for God.
In this story Jesus tells us about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock. And after he works all day long, he comes into the house… and before he doesn't even get to set down and rest and eat his own meal. Instead, he is required to serve his master his meal FIRST. Then he can sit down and eat and rest.
And after doing all that work - all day long - there's no word of thanks, no gratitude. And Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.
Then Jesus says to us: When YOU have done everything you were commanded to do you should say "I'm an UNPROFITABLE servant. I've only done my duty."
(pause)
That's not right!
I've been brought up to believe that if you put in a day's work you should get a day's pay. And I've read enough psychology to know that many workers NEED positive reinforcement. They need to know they're appreciated. They need to hear that they've done a good job. Because no matter how much money a person is paid being appreciated is far more important to most people than how big their check is.
But here we have Jesus saying: "Sorry. You don't get a ...
There are 15729 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
