We have done what was our duty to do – Luke 17.10

New Testament Challenge – Day 30

Luke 17-20

First allow me to congratulate all my fellow bloggers who have been participating in the 30/40 Days Blogging Challenge sponsored by preachersinstitute.com. Today is day 30 so some will be leaving the Challenge. I will attempt to stick with it until Christmas. After Christmas I’ll probably take a break and return to a few times per week.

I mention this because today’s reading began with a description of a Christian leader and servant. More specifically as expressed in today’s blog title which is found in Luke 17.10, a Christian leader is humble and recognizes that thanks and glory are not deserving to those who accomplish nothing more than their given duty.

Our Lord asks, “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you were commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17.9-10) In today’s society which has been promulgating excessive thanks for nominal tasks, this message comes painfully to many.

I have heard many times, “Father, you have to thank people more often. Otherwise, they won’t step up and work again.”

How does that sit as compared to Christ’s words in today’s Gospel? There is a conflict actually because we have a need to thank others for helping and blessing us, as we must thank the Lord, while at the same time those who have helped us must reject the thanks by reminding us that “we’re just doing what God wants us to do – nothing special.”

In this light, allow me to thank the preachersinstitute.com for offering us this challenge and YOU for reading my blog. Neither was expected of you. You have not been commanded by God to read my blog and for this I am thankful. I have been blessed with this blog not because of the platform it offers, but for the ability to “work out my thoughts” on the Holy Scriptures each day while preparing for the Sunday sermon. I only pray it has been helpful and blessed by God. After all, preaching is our duty so if we accomplish it, whether from the pulpit or on the blogosphere, we have only done what was our duty to do.