Scripture: Luke 17: 7-10
Goal: exploring mysteries of God’s earthly kingdom
Title: Master's expectations of Servants
Issue
Jesus reveals many of God’s kingdom mysteries in his 39 parables. The dominant concern... at least so far... is about saving souls that are currently lost to God’s heavenly kingdom. After all, says Jesus... My purpose for coming from heaven to earth... has always been to develop a personal relationship with everyone lost to My Father’s kingdom. And My single biggest challenge to developing personal relationships...is with folks that are excessively distracted by worldly interests.
And until that day... when I return to separate committed believers from those still distracted by worldly interests... I need everyone to re-evaluate their current relationship with Me. Jesus says... if those who have not yet come to Me... are not gracing this Chapel, I need My Munsonville disciples to go out and invite them in. Introduce them to Me... and invite them to become part of My kingdom. Time is passing... and my need to reach these lost souls is more urgent every day.
So, how do you and I extend kingdom invitations... by sharing how your personal relationship with Jesus... benefits or informs you. Because God’s Angel Armies could never be as convincing... as one fallen soul, like us... speaking directly to another fallen soul... you and I have been commissioned by the Lord of All... to extend kingdom invitations... to meet Jesus... again!
As we continue weaving this tapestry of kingdom mysteries, the issue Jesus introduces today is this: do we expect some “special thanks” for completing kingdom tasks, such as sharing with others how we benefit from our relationship with Jesus? Consider the last time you risked being ridiculed by a friend or family member... for sharing your concern for their faith... did you expect to profit in some way? Today’s parable reveals what disciples should expect after completing any task for God’s kingdom?
Scripture
From today’s parable... “Suppose you have a servant... who comes in from plowing your field or tending your sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, ‘Sit down and eat’?
As his master, wouldn’t you be more likely to say to your servant, ‘Prepare my dinner; change your clothes and wait on me until I’ve finished my coffee... then go to the kitchen and fix something for yourself? Should your servant expect a “special thanks” or to profit... for doing what’s expected of him?
Jesus reveals... it’s the same with his disciples... when we’ve done any of the kingdom tasks that we’ve been commissioned to do... you and I should not expect a “special thanks” or to profit in some way? No, like 1st CE servants... we too should not expect any special recognition... we should simply say: Lord, I’ve completed another task.
Applying Today’s Scripture...
As we apply this 1st CE scripture in our 21st CE lives... the premise does not ring true in my 21st CE experience. As sure as I am standing here... I know that if you had a person complete a great deal of hard labor, like plowing or shepherding... many of you would invite the worker to come in, rest, have some iced tea, and maybe even a bite to eat. So, in order to make sense of this 2000-year-old parable, I needed to replace servants from 1st CE Judah... that I lack a full enough understanding...by imagining slaves in 18th CE America... as depicted in the 1977 blockbuster miniseries... “Roots”.
The word parable means comparing two things side-by-side, where one thing is understood and the other is not. In today’s scripture... Jesus sets his followers expectations for doing what they have been commissioned to do... by comparing them to the then familiar expectations of 1st CE slaves. For instance, we disciples should not expect to profit for doing an important kingdom task, like inviting lost souls into relationship with Jesus... because that is what Jesus expects of his committed followers.
So, the point of today’s Unprofitable Servant parable... is when you and I do what Jesus expects of us... do not expect an “at-a-boy” or some immediate reward that somehow profits us. And please remember... we are no longer his servants. Jesus says, because I told you everything My Father told Me, I now call all My disciples... friend! And I promise I am with you... and I will remain with you... offering courage and strength to do... all that I have commissioned you to do.
But also remember... the choice of being my disciple and friend is entirely up to you. Everyone who chooses to be my beloved, will be rewarded more than you can ever imagine... after your brief earthly life.
We, the heirs of salvation are one in the Lord... no one is distinguished by sex, skin color, or religion, no one in the Lord is distinguished by nationality, social status or wealth.
As the heirs of salvation, we are all one in the Lord... and we all have many works and many gifts still remaining... let us use our gifts profitably toward God's earthly kingdom.
As the heirs of salvation... please stand and boldly sing One Bread, One Body UMH 620
Chapel by the Lake
Rev. Bill Taylor
Goal: exploring mysteries of God’s earthly kingdom
Title: Master's expectations of Servants
Issue
Jesus reveals many of God’s kingdom mysteries in his 39 parables. The dominant concern... at least so far... is about saving souls that are currently lost to God’s heavenly kingdom. After all, says Jesus... My purpose for coming from heaven to earth... has always been to develop a personal relationship with everyone lost to My Father’s kingdom. And My single biggest challenge to developing personal relationships...is with folks that are excessively distracted by worldly interests.
And until that day... when I return to separate committed believers from those still distracted by worldly interests... I need everyone to re-evaluate their current relationship with Me. Jesus says... if those who have not yet come to Me... are not gracing this Chapel, I need My Munsonville disciples to go out and invite them in. Introduce them to Me... and invite them to become part of My kingdom. Time is passing... and my need to reach these lost souls is more urgent every day.
So, how do you and I extend kingdom invitations... by sharing how your personal relationship with Jesus... benefits or informs you. Because God’s Angel Armies could never be as convincing... as one fallen soul, like us... speaking directly to another fallen soul... you and I have been commissioned by the Lord of All... to extend kingdom invitations... to meet Jesus... again!
As we continue weaving this tapestry of kingdom mysteries, the issue Jesus introduces today is this: do we expect some “special thanks” for completing kingdom tasks, such as sharing with others how we benefit from our relationship with Jesus? Consider the last time you risked being ridiculed by a friend or family member... for sharing your concern for their faith... did you expect to profit in some way? Today’s parable reveals what disciples should expect after completing any task for God’s kingdom?
Scripture
From today’s parable... “Suppose you have a servant... who comes in from plowing your field or tending your sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, ‘Sit down and eat’?
As his master, wouldn’t you be more likely to say to your servant, ‘Prepare my dinner; change your clothes and wait on me until I’ve finished my coffee... then go to the kitchen and fix something for yourself? Should your servant expect a “special thanks” or to profit... for doing what’s expected of him?
Jesus reveals... it’s the same with his disciples... when we’ve done any of the kingdom tasks that we’ve been commissioned to do... you and I should not expect a “special thanks” or to profit in some way? No, like 1st CE servants... we too should not expect any special recognition... we should simply say: Lord, I’ve completed another task.
Applying Today’s Scripture...
As we apply this 1st CE scripture in our 21st CE lives... the premise does not ring true in my 21st CE experience. As sure as I am standing here... I know that if you had a person complete a great deal of hard labor, like plowing or shepherding... many of you would invite the worker to come in, rest, have some iced tea, and maybe even a bite to eat. So, in order to make sense of this 2000-year-old parable, I needed to replace servants from 1st CE Judah... that I lack a full enough understanding...by imagining slaves in 18th CE America... as depicted in the 1977 blockbuster miniseries... “Roots”.
The word parable means comparing two things side-by-side, where one thing is understood and the other is not. In today’s scripture... Jesus sets his followers expectations for doing what they have been commissioned to do... by comparing them to the then familiar expectations of 1st CE slaves. For instance, we disciples should not expect to profit for doing an important kingdom task, like inviting lost souls into relationship with Jesus... because that is what Jesus expects of his committed followers.
So, the point of today’s Unprofitable Servant parable... is when you and I do what Jesus expects of us... do not expect an “at-a-boy” or some immediate reward that somehow profits us. And please remember... we are no longer his servants. Jesus says, because I told you everything My Father told Me, I now call all My disciples... friend! And I promise I am with you... and I will remain with you... offering courage and strength to do... all that I have commissioned you to do.
But also remember... the choice of being my disciple and friend is entirely up to you. Everyone who chooses to be my beloved, will be rewarded more than you can ever imagine... after your brief earthly life.
We, the heirs of salvation are one in the Lord... no one is distinguished by sex, skin color, or religion, no one in the Lord is distinguished by nationality, social status or wealth.
As the heirs of salvation, we are all one in the Lord... and we all have many works and many gifts still remaining... let us use our gifts profitably toward God's earthly kingdom.
As the heirs of salvation... please stand and boldly sing One Bread, One Body UMH 620
Chapel by the Lake
Rev. Bill Taylor
