Storyteller - Day 18

Today is Day 18 of this series, blogging through "Storyteller", the newest free Bible study from Sarah Koontz at livingbydesign.org

In today’s passage of Scripture we're looking at Luke 17: 7 - 10, which is called "the parable of faith and duty" in the HCSB ... “Which one of you having a slave tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’? Does he thank that slave because he did what was commanded? In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.’”

In our modern culture, fishing for compliments has become the norm. We Insta and we TikTok and we Live to see how many "Likes" we can get. We "humbly" downplay our haircut, our baking, our work, in an effort for people to disagree and tell us how great we are.

'There is a meme that defines "Awkward" as “that moment when you’re fishing for complements by speaking badly of yourself and nobody disagrees,”' (Carl Crouse, on fishing for compliments).

Yesterday we saw Jesus dealing out some out some hard truths to the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

By contrast, today sees Him talking to the “apostles". This is likely the 12 who were set apart by Jesus, His closest companions and dearest friends. And what are they doing? It appears they want to be elevated even above the other “common” disciples! They're asking: "Lord, set us apart, give us greater responsibilities" … They're fishing for compliments, fishing to be noticed and elevated …

Today’s Scripture is a hard story to read, because Jesus comes across as rather cold.

Where’s the warm fuzzy Jesus who only says positive things? Where’s the love, the affirmation?

He's still in there, but Jesus is speaking to arrogant disciples who are demanding that they be elevated above others.

This story challenges their motivation for following Him.

"Are you conditionally following Jesus holding Him hostage that you’ll follow him with more commitment as long as He shows you His love according to your conditions, a good life, feeling His love, an easier life?" (Carl Crouse).

Sadly, many people fall away from a true commitment to the Lord because following and serving Him wholeheartedly is "too hard"; their expectation of an easy life because now they're saved isn't fulfilled; they just don't "feel" the love of God in an evil world.

Often times, these folks get discouraged because following Jesus is hard and unglamorous a lot of the time - and then they hold back their devotion, their service, and their active participation in the things of God.

In Luke 17: 10 Jesus says something radical to our way of thinking. He says to Believers: "Follow God because it is a privilege!"

These "slaves" He's describing - that's you and me! A slave is what a Believer should be if Jesus truly is Lord. And He says true Followers follow, and serve, and obey Christ not for what they can get out of it, but because it's the right thing to do. And more than that: It’s an amazing honor, to be chosen to serve the King Himself.

God owes you and me nothing. At it’s purest level, our motivation for serving the Lord isn't meant to be based on our faith increasing, greater recognition, or wonderful accomplishments. Our serving isn't about us - it's about Him.

If you choose to serve others, (because that's what it means to serve God) one of the first hard lessons you're going to learn is that people aren't always grateful (Did I just see all the moms in the room nod their heads??!!). Sadly, sometimes the people you're helping, serving, caring for, working for, will take advantage of you, demand a bigger piece of the pie, or criticize you for not doing it right.

If you serve others and expect the reward of always feeling the warm fuzzies, you will eventually be disappointed.

When you make a commitment to serve Christ, you're only going to be able to keep going for the long run when your motivation to serve is because it is an honor to serve, and your eyes and heart are focused on the One you're serving, not on yourself.

Earlier today I was watching "The Last Knight" with my sons. There's a scene where the good guys seem to be fighting a losing battle against the Decepticons, and Izabella sends her diminutive Autobot Sqweeks into the fray.

The scene instantly reminded me of today's parable, and Jesus's firm words to His Followers.

Izabella doesn't give Sqweeks a pep talk, telling him he's braver than he thinks, or that he's the best bot they could ever hope to have on their team ... Nope! When Sqweeks shrinks back from the task, thinking he's too small and too scared, she encourages him with these words: "You’re small and you’re ugly. No one will see you coming."

No, Jesus isn't saying His Followers are small and ugly! But He's not looking for the tallest, skinniest Disciple. He's not looking for the Disciple with the most money or the most degrees. He's not looking for the one shouting "Pick me!" the loudest.

He's looking for the one with hands already dirty from serving. He's looking for the one with scuffed knees from hours spent in prayer and repentance and supplication. He's looking for the one who earnestly says "I'm not worthy, Lord, but I'm willing; I'm not strong enough or skilled enough, Lord, but with the Holy Spirit I can do it."

"Serving God in the midst of the mundane is a delight, not a drudgery," (Sarah Koontz, on Psalm 40: 8).