Luke 17:7-10 (NIV) “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’? 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’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 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.’”
Jesus ended this discourse by attacking the common belief, as common now as it was then, that a relationship with God can be earned or merited through strict obedience to His commandments, and by doing works of righteousness. This was staunchly believed and taught by the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who believed that God owed them His blessings because they had obeyed His commands.
But this belief turns the relationship between God and His people upside down, putting people in charge of things, and giving them control over God, and when and how He has to bless them. So Jesus included this brief teaching to correct it. The reality is that God’s people are to serve Him and obey His commands fully, not to win His approval, but purely because God is our King, our Lord, our Master, and He requires it of us. Our full obedience is not something that earns extra points, but is actually the minimum requirement. So when, at the end of the day, on looking back and seeing that we did well in serving God, we should simply say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”
This may seem harsh to some. But everyone must realize that God put salvation into places and invites all people to come into relationship with Him not because of our merits, but on the basis of His love. And, though it may seem strange to many, the door is opened as widely for the repentant alcoholic, the repentant thief, and the repentant murderer as it is for the repentant executive, the repentant farm worker, and the repentant pastor. The key to acceptance is not adequate good works, niceness, or even church attendance. The key is repentance and faith in the finished work of Jesus.
Once a person receives salvation and is grafted into God’s people, obedience to His commands is expected, not to win points or blessings, but out of love and gratefulness for the salvation that we have received. Again, it’s not something extra for the spiritual elite; it is the minimum standard for the people of the kingdom.
Father, most Christians seem to understand that salvation can’t be bought or earned by good works and obedience. But many seem to take it to another, inaccurate level, and believe that that means that obedience and good works are thus unnecessary for the Christian. But I can’t find anywhere that You say that in Your word. Instead, I find constant urging, to obey, to be holy, to not sin. But the point still remains that obedience is required, not to earn blessings, but simply because we are not our own, but have been bought with a price, and You have standards for us as Your people. Help me, Lord, to follow and serve You well, to do the right things at the right time, and most importantly, for the right reason. Amen.