WE HAVE ONLY DONE OUR DUTY

Passage: Luke 17:7-10

Key verse: 10

NIV

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me(A) while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 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.’”(B)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Unworthy Servants

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant[a] plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and (A)dress properly,[b] and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are (B)unworthy servants;[c] we have only done what was our duty.’”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 17:7 Or bondservant; also verse 9
  2. Luke 17:8 Greek gird yourself
  3. Luke 17:10 Or bondservants
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The hard working servant (7-9)

When a person does his duty, he has a sense of accomplishment and inner peace. This is sufficient reward. He doesn't expect any reward or praise for doing his duty. A man who works hard all day doesn't expect his boss to cook dinner for him. He works because that's his job. He doesn't even expect to be thanked.

2. God's servants (10)

We are servants of Christ Jesus. He bought us with his blood, redeemed us from the power of sin and death, and we belong to him. Whatever we do for him is done in response to his grace. Serving Jesus is our duty and our highest joy. When he uses us in his redemptive work, even in some small way, it is a great privilege. When we have done everything we were told to do, we can only say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you. I am an unworthy servant; please use me in your work in any way you choose.

One Word: Rejoice to do our duty