When someone is employed at a store, they have certain duties that they are assigned to and required to do. A grocery store employee may have to stock the shelves, or bring out the fresh produce. A janitor will have to mop the floor, replace the paper towels, etc. A waitress will go back and forth from the kitchen to the tables as they bring out the meals for the customers. Whatever it is that they have been hired to do, they are required to do. That is their job. And because it is their job they don’t require to be thanked when they do the things that they are commanded to do. That is their job, that is their duty.
And on the day of judgment when we all go to give account of ourselves before God, no one should think that they deserve to be thanked for doing the things that He has commanded of us. We are “unprofitable servants” as it says in Luke 17, just doing our duty.
Luke 17:7-10 “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
Just as in a regular job somewhere, the life of a Christian is our duty. The Word of God contains all of the commands that we need to abide by and do, as well as not to do. We are commanded to love one another, and but just a select few, but to love your neighbor as yourself, meaning, everyone. We are commanded to be forgiving with one another, just as Christ has been with us. We need to be filled with patience, peace, joy, thankfulness, among many other things.
To keep ourselves from sin is another command. To not let ourselves get involved in lies, covetousness, deceit, guile, hatred. These things are blemishes that affect our life as a Christian, and are unpleasing to the Lord, and He commands that we keep ourselves from those sins. This is our job. This is our duty.
1 Corinthians 9:16-17 “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”
We are servants of the Lord, just doing His will for us. Just as Paul had written, when he preached the gospel to others, it wasn’t like he was doing something that required him to be praised for it. It was a command from the Lord to preach, and he was following that command. Just doing his duty for the Lord.
We are all unprofitable servants, with a job to do. Let’s get to it.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 