We Are Unworthy Servants

Luke 17:1-10

Key Verse 17:10

“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.' " 

Living in Los Angeles, we have tons of thanks topics for us to be thankful for. First of all we are thankful to the Lord for such a fine weather. We thank Him for he gave us mountains and beaches. There are beautiful trails in less than one hour of driving distance. Have you ever tried the trails which are at the end of Mt. Baldy Road nearby APU? In addition, in LA there are tons of good restaurants where you can enjoy all kinds of food – American food, Vietnamese food, Chinese food, Italian food, Japanese food, Indian food, and of course Korean food. Another thanks topic we have is for all the people working for the welfare of the general public. It is thanks to the people who work for public services that we can enjoy civil life in this metropolitan city. And the credit for our quiet orderly life in LA goes to people like the CHP (California Highway Patrol) officers, firefighters, soldiers, and doctors and nurses. Let us stop for a moment and think about a policeman stopping you on the 405 freeway and giving you a ticket. You may not like him giving you a ticket, and tickets are not cheap. Some of them are very expensive. But when you think about it, the policeman giving you a ticket is serving you! He is concerned about your longevity! He wants you to drive carefully, so you would live longer than Methuselah! 

We know that these public servants serve the good of the general public with integrity, not because of themselves but because of the strict discipline they are put under. And every public servant engaged in public service must go by tight work ethics. 

The title of today’s message is “We are unworthy servants!” Just as a CHP officer, a firefighter, a solider, a nurse go by strict codes of conduct, so also Jesus’ disciples must go by codes of conduct as servants serving the flock of God in God’s name. What then are the work ethics for the disciples? What is the code of conduct for the disciples as servants serving the Lord? In the passage Jesus lays down the code of conduct as unworthy servants in three ways: 

First, the code of conduct governing the relationship with little ones

(1) Securing their interest

If one works as a medical doctor the first thing he or she must look for is to secure the interest (well-being) of a patient. The same is true with a fire-fighter. Suppose you work as a firefighter. There is a house which is on fire. People are caught inside. In responding to the 911 call, you run to the house, you break the door open, and jump into the fire. And the first category of a person you are called to look after is little babies, or senior citizens, who cannot extricate themselves on their own. 

The same is true with the disciples. Look at verses 1-2. “Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” In LA during the hot summer season, the mountains and hills get extremely dry, so that almost without exception we see brush fires breaking out here and there. And not all brush fires are natural. Some of them are man-made, such as arsonists causing the fires to spread or campers causing the fires to get out of control due to their negligence. 

In the passage Jesus warns the disciples against becoming instrumental to little ones sinning. In verse 1 the word “sin” is mentioned. In verse 2 we see the word “sin” also. Sin is like a house catching [or depending on the severity of sin, in danger of catching] fire. What will happen when a fire breaks out in a house? When the fire is not put down quickly, the damage will quickly spread. If we leave the house to continue to burn, very soon the whole house will turn into ashes. 

The analogy of a sin and a fire, comparing a little one sinning to a little toddler caught in a house on fire, is a lot more delicate and complex than it seems. For example if a physical house catches fire, one can easily recognize that it is on fire, for in the first place as the fire spreads smoke will come out. And even before smoke comes out, the smoke-detector will be triggered and will make a loud sound. But it is not so with sin. In many ways sin comes like a little child enjoying sweets. If you have a little baby like a one year or two year old, you must be careful not to give him or her anything too sweet. For example you are not supposed to give them bread with honey spread all over it. Once they taste what is sweet, they will always demand what is sweet. They won’t like eating other healthy food such as milk, plain rice, or salad. Such is the case with sin. And there are so many kinds of sins. Using foul language is one and child pornography is another. 

Categorically little ones lack the capability to discern what is good from what is evil. Naturally they do not know how to resist temptation. Because of their inability to resist and shun away from evil, they are in greater danger than those who are spiritually mature. If you are a parent, and have a one or two year old toddler, as your baby loves to go outside, walk around here and there, checking out virtually everything he or she comes in contact with, you as a baby sitter, must issue lots of “no’s”. And you must watch your baby very closely. 

But the point Jesus is making here is for you to not become a source to cause your baby to sin! Things that cause people to sin are bound to come! One family I know has two bread-earning parents. They are devout Christians. They had one son who is four year old. Although both of them work full time still their combined income was not enough to cover the expenses for baby sitting. But still they could afford buying a big screen TV with Direct TV cable service. So most of the time they let their big screen TV baby-sit the boy. And boy! The little boy became a genius in manipulating the remote control. And day in and day out he watches all kinds of movies – violent movies and dirty movies, movies with vile languages, obscenities, and much more. And who is responsible for the boy sinning this way? The same goes true with all other areas of life - the life inside and the life outside of a church. 

"Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” Children (or “little ones”) are a direct reflection of their parents. Like parents, like children. Like shepherd like sheep. So disciples must be careful about their influence upon little ones because in many ways little ones are their captive audience, and thus are defenseless.  The disciples may become a broad-band channel through which sinful influences are being channeled into their little ones.

(2) By watching oneself

How then can a disciple stop from committing the horrible sin of causing little ones to sin? In verse 3a, Jesus says, “So watch yourselves.” What does it mean [for “you”] to watch “yourself”? It means for you to baby-sit you.  

Watch yourselves! Baby-sitting is not an easy job. But we know that Jesus does not ask us to do what is impossible. In asking us to do what we are to do, Jesus always provides us with the means by which to do what we are called to do. And God gave us the abilities to watch ourselves. How did God equip us to baby sit the spiritual babies that are inside of us? We know the answer. According to Genesis 1:26-28, we learn that God made man in his image. One of the attributes of the image of God is the ability for one to govern oneself. Consistent with this plan of God, God sent Jesus who in turn promised to give the Holy Spirit to his disciples, so that by listening to the voice of and working with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual self (the essential self) would become fully operational, so that the spiritual self given by our Lord Jesus can observe what one does. Speaking of the truth, John 16:8 says, “When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” The world throws a lot of garbage at us – evil ideas, isms, philosophies, and lifestyles, which come in all different forms and sources such as text books, media, or government systems. On many occasions they present what is evil as good, making people confused. But, the Holy Spirit convicts the world in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment. Figuratively speaking it is like a policeman marking a drunk-driver with a speed-gun, and giving him a ticket for speeding. So daily we must keep God’s word which is God-breathed, so that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we would be reminded of what is right and what is wrong, and go for what is right, shunning what is evil. Then a disciple can exercise good influence on these little ones. 

Second, the code of conduct governing the relationship with a brother 

Now let us shift gears to the things we must remember in relating ourselves to spiritual siblings in the Lord. 

(1) Securing the interest of our brothers and sisters in the Lord

Look at verses 3b-4. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Here again Jesus talks about “sin”. In verses 1-2, Jesus talked about you who are directly responsible for others sinning. But now Jesus shifts gears. You are doing okay. You watch yourself. You shun away from evil. But that does not mean that you are totally free from being in danger of seeing your house catching fire! Why? There will always be someone who sins against you. And they sin not just against themselves or others, but against you. And it is not some people who live worlds apart, but your bother who lives right next to you. 

In American society which is based on so-called “rugged individualism” we believe in personal privacy or the right to be left alone. Of course we do not think that what Cain said is right, for in cold anger, Cain talked back to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But on many occasions we say, “I eat my own bread, you eat your own bread; I mind my own business, you mind your own business.” In this kind of individualistic mentality some even go to the point of saying, “Don’t dare preach me. If I go down to hell, it is I who go to hell, not you.” And in Canada and increasingly in the United States of America as well, if a preacher preaches against homo-sexuality, he is in danger of going to prison. 

But Jesus says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him.” Why does Jesus ask us to do this?  Two things must be said: first, we are more closely connected than we might think, and second, the dreadful consequences of a brother next to you sinning.  Of course we need to respect one another’s personal privacy. We also must respect and be sensitive to other people’s feelings, just as we should respect and are sensitive to our own feelings. But, we should not forget the bottom line: all people on earth are closely connected. Believers and unbelievers, Jews and Gentiles, the old generation and the new generation are all connected together. After all we all belong to one race – Homo sapiens. This truth hits us more realistically than ever when it comes down to the spiritual bothers and sisters belonging to the church; the body of Jesus Christ. 

Let us assume hypothetically that you belong to a church which has about 120 members. Some are pastors; some are lay persons, some come to Bible studies once or twice a week some once or twice a month. Some come once a year. On a broad level, that church is connected with other chapters in other states or countries. Even on a broader level, you belong to the so-called “church universal” consisting of all different denominations. And it is the same whether or not your church is “denominational” or “non-denominational.” And in Jesus all belong to one another, and we all belong to Jesus Christ. In short in Jesus we are “one”. 

We already talked about the dreadful consequence of sin. Like a fire, it can spread very quickly that unless it is contained and put to death, it can cause the whole house to burn down. A pastor then realized that personal piety is never enough. As far as the battle against sin is concerned, we should always be alert, so that each time a brother sins, we are called to rebuke him. Then when he comes and says, “I repent”, we must forgive him. And we must do it even if the same brother comes to us and says the same thing seven times a day. 

(2) By faith in the Lord

 

Again, although we know what we are to do, we know that in practical life it is not easy for us to practice what we are called to do. How then can we do it? Again Jesus always provides us with the means by which to do what we are called to do. That is, by faith in the Lord with whom nothing is impossible. 

Having lived with Jesus for a prolonged period of time the disciples also knew the means. They knew that by faith they can practice what they are asked to do. But they thought that their faith was so little or small that they needed a lot more faith, the faith which is as big as the Rocky Mountains. So they said, “Increase our faith!” 

But what did Jesus say? Look at verse 6. “He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.” This passage indicates that it is impossible for us to practice Jesus’ requests with human efforts alone. But by faith in the Lord, one can do this. 

This is true in all practical terms. In our natural person even when we know that any brother is sinning and feels like rebuking that person we are afraid that that might offend the brother, so we keep our mouth shut. But this kind of fear is not based on faith but feelings. God is almighty. God is in the business of making a brother either stand or fall. So without worrying about whether that brother might run away we must rebuke him boldly. The same goes true with forgiving. A brother who sins against you seven times a day and comes to you to say, “I repent” seven times a day, might strike you as totally insincere, and therefore not trustworthy. He might impress you as a “hopeless” case. But in God no one is hopeless. All have the hope of becoming as solid and saintly as Jesus himself. So by faith in God who believes in all who believe in Him, we all must practice what Jesus says. 

Third, the code of conduct governing the relationship with one’s master

(1) Securing Father’s interest

Finally let us think about the things we must remember in our relationship with God the Father. First of all God is our master, so as a servant of God the Father who called us to serve His kingdom purpose, we must work to secure God’s interest. What is God interested in? 

Look at verse 7a. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.” This passage shows us that the position of a disciple is similar to that of a farmer plowing or a shepherd looking after the sheep. This then tells us that God is interested in each of his children being cultivated in their heart-soils. God is like a father with many children. Just as a man with ten fingers is concerned about each of the ten fingers, God is concerned about each person out there in the field. And in the Bible God sees each child as a sheep. Jesus called his disciples to take care of sheep. So it behooves us to cultivate the heart soil of each person, so they would be well fed with God’s word. The practical way to do this is to remove all stumbling blocks and hard stuff from a man’s heart, by praying, and planting God’s words in our Bible student. During the summer we choose to do this through the Genesis program. 

(2) By being thankful for the work itself

The real challenging part is yet to come. Look at verses 7b-10. “Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 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.' " This passage says that we need to finish strong in our service in the Lord. And a strong finish comes with many thanks. Serving the Lord, doing everything we are told to do, is a very challenging task. Yet, finishing it with many thanks saying, “We are unworthy servants” is even more challenging. 

How can we say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty?” from first to finish? In my opinion we can do this by remembering one thing: that is, serving the Lord itself is a great thanks topic, so that in and of itself, service in the Lord, is REWARD! Each time I see brothers and sisters serving the choir or orchestra, I am reminded of and concerned about the hardship they had to undergo. In order to practice the music they have to sacrifice their time and energy. And they practice long hours some times well into late hours of the night. But as I see them performing the music I see their faces shining like angels. So I can see that the Lord blesses each servant who serves the Lord with His love and power. 

One word: unworthy servants 

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