On the Road to Jerusalem: Unworthy Servants

“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.'"—Luke 17:10

The apostle Paul considered himself to be the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and unworthy to be called an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9). He had been a “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1 Timothy 1:13) of Christ, going so far as to violently persecute and attempt to destroy the church of God (Galatians 1:13).  But he also was very much aware that he had "received mercy” because he had “acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). He knew that God’s grace had “overflowed” to him with “the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:14) and that he had received grace so that Jesus Christ might display in him His “perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). 

Even with all of his education and accomplishments, Paul considered himself a “servant” or “slave” of Christ (Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1).  He knew Jesus had called him a servant for “the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1).   He is an unworthy servant, a real life illustration of Jesus’ example in Luke 17:10, who was simply doing his duty.

In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addressed two factions that had developed in the church, concerning loyalty to Paul and Apollos.  But Paul desired to set the record straight by stating that they were simply servants doing their duty:

“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth”—1 Corinthians 3:5-7. 

During this time of Lent, we remember that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master.  We are simply servants whom God has called to Himself so that His perfect patience might be displayed in us.  God owes us nothing, and we owe Him everything. We humble ourselves by fasting so that we might be reminded of the truth that we are not sustained by mere food, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3).  He is our Sustainer.  And He is our Lord.

Spend some extended time in prayer today.  He has called us to be His servants, entrusting us with the task of making His name known to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).  Ask Him to identify the specific task He has for you, as well as opportunities to share His life-changing message with the lost.  Amen.