The value of "Worthless Slaves"

Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: Luke 17:7-10 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”

Observation: This mirrors another verse in scripture that speaks of not thinking of oneself more highly than one ought.

Application: At first this passage seemed a little rough. I would be tempted to give the slaves a break. But in that day and time that was a slaves life. They functioned accordingly and would have found little support in complaining.

The challenge for us, of course, is that many of us think we are above a slave’s life. We think we are worth more, deserve more, should be catered to and the like. And on earth many of us have found ways to convince people that such things are true.

Still, at the heart of who we are is the fact that we are recipients of God’s mercy. We are servants who are called to be servants. And lest we think that is too harsh of a life, Jesus personally showed us an example of pure servanthood and called us to do the same. And in some ways one of the blessings is that we are actually given work to do. There is a purpose for our existence.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the opportunity to serve you. May we always consider it something that we naturally “ought to have done.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Esther 1-2, Psalm 150, and Luke 17)