(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
You can tell a lot about a person's character by the way he treats others, especially those he or she considers of lesser status.
While the word "disciple" means student, the relationship with a teacher entails more than sitting in a classroom. A disciple is also responsible to serve his rabbi, providing everything from food to transportation.1 In many ways, a disciple resembles a servant, as both must meet the needs of their master. Please turn to Luke 17, where Jesus uses the role of a servant to explain the responsibilities of a disciple. As the story opens in v. 7, Jesus gives his disciples the part of the master.
* XLIX.The Foremost Conscription2
...into the master's employ, which demonstrates...
God's aseity (Lat. a = from + se = itself), a theological term that marks His independence, means that He is self-originating and self-existent, that He is dependent on nothing outside Himself. The apostle Paul says...5
In most cases, servants perform necessary functions that free their master to attend other matters. Not so with God. There are no 'necessary functions" that He could not do better or faster Himself. There is no freeing Him to do anything else. He does not need our help. He does not need us at all and would get along quite well without us. He is completely self-sufficient (self-conscious and self determined)8 He has everything, and He wants for nothing; unlike us, who have nothing and want for everything.
If God does not need us, why does He bother with us? ...There is a rabbinic explanation of the exodus that gives this insightful reason (quoted in Montefiore and Loewe 1974:117-118).9
The point of Jesus' illustration is not to describe the disciples' precise relationship with God but to illustrate the disciples' proper response to God:
This requirement for excellence in service applies no less to clergy than to laity.12 In fact, it applies more to those who represent God in an official capacity, whom He holds to a higher standard.13 Paul writes to a young minister...
Although you should see yourself as an unworthy servant— and this is not false humility but realistic honesty—you must strive to be an unwavering servant, willing to do whatever the master requires.
How do you see yourself? ...While you are a child of the king, which comes with great reward, you are also a servant of the king, which carries great responsibility. There are tantalizing details about what the future will hold—a role in the kingdom, an eternal inheritance, a crown of life, access to the New Jerusalem15—and you may speculate about the next life, but you must concentrate on the present life.
You are to view your service, as undeserving of any special consideration or appreciation. In the grand scope of things, which is where God operates, you are insignificant.16 Nevertheless, it is important that we not base our understanding of a particular issue on a single passage if the Bible addresses it elsewhere. We saw that principle in The Foremost Conciliation, where Jesus explains in one place how to respond if you have wronged your brother and in another place how to respond if your brother has wronged you. Both passages are necessary to get a full picture of your responsibility to maintain proper relationships within the believing community. Likewise, Jesus describes in Luke 17 how a servant must evaluate his service, but Jesus describes in Luke 19 how the master may evaluate that service. There, Jesus tells a parable about another servant who receives a significant review and whose loyalty receives a significant reward.
The Foremost Conscription in Luke 17 describes the master-servant relationship, in particular, what a servant should do, which is to put forth his best effort, regardless of how the master responds.19 ...Are you a servant of the master? ...Are you putting forth your best effort?
Having considered The Foremost Conscription, we will look next at The Foremost Consolation, which enjoys the peace of God, in Ps 94:19.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
After fifty years of wedded bliss, a couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. A local reporter wanted to know the secret of their long and happy marriage. "Well, it dates back to our honeymoon," explained the man. "We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down the bottom of the canyon by pack mule. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's mule stumbled. She said only, 'That's once.' We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again, and she said, 'That's twice.' We hadn't gone a half mile further when the mule stumbled a third time, at which point my wife removed a gun from her pocketbook and shot him. "When I started to protest over her treatment of the poor mule, she looked at me and said... 'That's once.'"You can tell a lot about a person's character by the way he treats others, especially those he or she considers of lesser status. You can tell a lot about God's character by the way He treats others, especially those He considers of lesser status. Thankfully, He has more patience when we stumble.
While the word "disciple" means student, the relationship with a teacher entails more than sitting in a classroom. A disciple is also responsible to serve his rabbi, providing everything from food to transportation.1 In many ways, a disciple resembles a servant, as both must meet the needs of their master. Please turn to Luke 17, where Jesus uses the role of a servant to explain the responsibilities of a disciple. As the story opens in v. 7, Jesus gives his disciples the part of the master.
Luke 17:7 Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 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'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?By that last question, Jesus is asking his disciples how a servant should expect his master to respond to his service. What Jesus is actually describing, and what he wants his disciples to recognize, is that the master-servant relationship is similar to the teacher-disciple relationship in that they both resemble...
* XLIX.The Foremost Conscription2
...into the master's employ, which demonstrates...
- The pity of God (Luke 17:10; cf. 19:17)
Luke 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.'"As I said, this verse is the application for the brief description Jesus gives about the expectations of a servant, not what the servant could expect but what he should expect. It is about having a realistic understanding of your value to God.3 Jesus' analogy, though, like any analogy, breaks down if pressed too far. He tells how the servant's labor provides what the master needs, although such things do not apply to God.
- The servant works the fields to maintain the master's estate, but God needs no one to maintain His estate.
- The servant prepares a meal to satisfy the master's hunger, but God needs no sustenance and experiences no hunger.4
God's aseity (Lat. a = from + se = itself), a theological term that marks His independence, means that He is self-originating and self-existent, that He is dependent on nothing outside Himself. The apostle Paul says...5
Acts 17:25 ...he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.One reason God is independent is because He owns everything. David writes...6
Ps 24:1 [= 1 Cor 10:26] The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;Another reason God is independent is because He can do anything (i.e., anything He wishes). Jeremiah prayed...7
Jer 32:17 Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.God needs nothing from us. He does not need our love, our fellowship, our worship, or our suggestions. He does not need us at all...but we need Him. In fact, He alone is and has what we need.
In most cases, servants perform necessary functions that free their master to attend other matters. Not so with God. There are no 'necessary functions" that He could not do better or faster Himself. There is no freeing Him to do anything else. He does not need our help. He does not need us at all and would get along quite well without us. He is completely self-sufficient (self-conscious and self determined)8 He has everything, and He wants for nothing; unlike us, who have nothing and want for everything.
If God does not need us, why does He bother with us? ...There is a rabbinic explanation of the exodus that gives this insightful reason (quoted in Montefiore and Loewe 1974:117-118).9
[W]hen God redeemed the children of Abraham [from bondage in Egypt], He redeemed them, not as children, but as slaves, so that if He imposed upon them decrees, and they obeyed not, He could say, 'You are my slaves.... On this condition I redeemed you, that I should decree, and you should fulfill.'. [Nevertheless, God's slaves are not like man's slaves.] For a man acquires slaves that [they] may look after and sustain him, but God acquires slaves that He may look after and sustain them.God does not need you,10 but He does want you, which is better by far.
The point of Jesus' illustration is not to describe the disciples' precise relationship with God but to illustrate the disciples' proper response to God:
[W]hen you have done everything you were told to do, [you] should say, "I am unworthy of any recognition or reward."Jesus advises you, his followers, to evaluate your service. To be realistic, though, that evaluation must follow your best effort.
1. Your service must be exceptional.Nothing mediocre or partial will do. By the same token, you must recognize that your master's standards are exceedingly high and that He is not easily impressed. So, as far as receiving His approval for your service...
2. Your expectation should be small.Recognize that, despite your best effort, you are still an "unworthy" servant, unworthy of reward or even recognition.11
This requirement for excellence in service applies no less to clergy than to laity.12 In fact, it applies more to those who represent God in an official capacity, whom He holds to a higher standard.13 Paul writes to a young minister...
2 Tim 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed...who correctly handles the word of truth.The preparation and presentation of God's word to God's people in preaching and teaching enables a minister to fulfill his highest aspiration—to please God, which it does when he gives diligent attention to what God has said. By the same token, it displeases God when a minister does not give His word proper attention. Paul presents the choice to Timothy in stark terms: God does not assign a letter grade or a numerical value to one's performance. It is pass or fail: Be approved by God or be ashamed before God.14
Although you should see yourself as an unworthy servant— and this is not false humility but realistic honesty—you must strive to be an unwavering servant, willing to do whatever the master requires.
How do you see yourself? ...While you are a child of the king, which comes with great reward, you are also a servant of the king, which carries great responsibility. There are tantalizing details about what the future will hold—a role in the kingdom, an eternal inheritance, a crown of life, access to the New Jerusalem15—and you may speculate about the next life, but you must concentrate on the present life.
You are to view your service, as undeserving of any special consideration or appreciation. In the grand scope of things, which is where God operates, you are insignificant.16 Nevertheless, it is important that we not base our understanding of a particular issue on a single passage if the Bible addresses it elsewhere. We saw that principle in The Foremost Conciliation, where Jesus explains in one place how to respond if you have wronged your brother and in another place how to respond if your brother has wronged you. Both passages are necessary to get a full picture of your responsibility to maintain proper relationships within the believing community. Likewise, Jesus describes in Luke 17 how a servant must evaluate his service, but Jesus describes in Luke 19 how the master may evaluate that service. There, Jesus tells a parable about another servant who receives a significant review and whose loyalty receives a significant reward.
Luke 19:17 "Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of [a large matter].'There are two differences to note in Luke 19 that distinguish it from what Jesus said in Luke 17.
- First, the person making this evaluation is not the servant but the master.
- Second, the reason for this evaluation is not popularity or personality but productivity.
2 Cor 10:18 ...it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.Whose evaluation are you trying most to secure...that of your family or your friends or that of your Father in heaven?
The Foremost Conscription in Luke 17 describes the master-servant relationship, in particular, what a servant should do, which is to put forth his best effort, regardless of how the master responds.19 ...Are you a servant of the master? ...Are you putting forth your best effort?
Having considered The Foremost Conscription, we will look next at The Foremost Consolation, which enjoys the peace of God, in Ps 94:19.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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Jim Skaggs