Unworthy Servant?

Luke 17:7-10

New International Version (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 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.’”

This isn't a heartwarming promise of gratitude. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Jesus, talking to his disciples, has some lessons to heed.  

The story is that of a servant, and by servant I mean someone bound to another. Metaphorically this is someone who has given himself up wholly to another's will. The servant does something ordered or prescribed and basically Jesus says not to expect that these actions suddenly change the nature of the relationship. The teachable point is to us, Jesus actually says, "So you"... that means me and you, we should say to ourselves "we are unworthy". 

The Greek for the word unworthy is achreios which also means unprofitable, useless and unneeded. Another humility reminder. We live in a society that tells us we are special so often, that I think at times this is our approach to God. It's a hard to remember that actually, we are not needed. There's a great quote by CS Lewis that speaks to this, "He who needs nothing, chose to need us, because we need to be needed".  

The next truth in this passage reminds us of our relationship to God. 1 Corinthians 7:22 says it well, "..likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant".  When we turn over our lives to Christ, we are essentially becoming bound, a bond-servant, to him. As such, this passage reminds us there are things expected for us to do.  These expectations aren't done to earn affection, or improve status, but are merely our duty. 

Here comes the great paradox of Christ. Though we are meant to be slaves unto him, shifting our will to his will, astonishingly he molds that bond into that of adoption. Galatians 4:7 specifically says, "So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."

Paradoxes are confusing! I think the message from Christ is this: We are unneeded slaves who should do good things not to earn his love or improve our status. Reading the Bible, going to church, serving our neighbors, this is expected. If we do those things to get a seat at his table we are missing the point.  The secret is, though unworthy bond-servants, we are already at his table, adopted as heirs, welcome to his riches because of love and not from doing our duties.

Time to check my actions. Why do I do what I do? Am I expecting thanks? Am I expecting blessings? Do I think this will move me closer to God? And can I really identify with being unworthy? Until I recognize I am not needed, I won't grasp how profound it is that God has actually chosen to need me. 

Bright Eyes

Proverbs 15:30 The Message (MSG)

³⁰ A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
    and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. 

Proverbs 15:30

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones. 

This text seems like common sense, but warrants exploration regardless. Reading through the various translations the first question in my mind is which comes first? Does brightness or twinkling in ones eyes lead to joy, or does it indicate joy? 

First, I suppose lets get the visual right. The Hebrew word for light means luminary - this is a word used in Genesis to describe the Sun and stars, it's also used when talking about oil lamps. I like that the Message used the word twinkle.  In other words, this is someone who's eyes are noticeably bright, sparkling, etc.  When does that happen? This isn't talking about someone without cataracts, but someone who is so cheerful and joyful their eyes just glow.  I can certainly think of people like that.  

While it is true that to have such bright and cheerful eyes, one must have a joyful heart, I think this verse isn't stating that truth, but challenging us.  What happens when we are around someone so joyful, their eyes sparkle? It's infectious, right? It's hard not to walk away without feeling uplifted.  That's what this verse is saying, being around someone who is joyful, gladdens our hearts. 

This fits with the second part as well. The Hebrew word for news is Shemuah meaning a report, message, or news, as in something heard in conversation.  What happens when we hear good news? The Hebrew literally says it "puts fat on the bones".  This phrase broken down is about filling our souls.  To put fat on, is to prosper or add substance and this word was often used talking about riches and abundance.  The word used for bones, etsem, also means substance and self.  So hearing a good report fills us, satisfies us to the point of overflowing.  

I think it's pretty clear what wisdom this Proverb relays, leading to two challenges. First, am I the person with bright eyes, infectiously cheerful and causing glad hearts in my wake? Are the words in my conversations good reports, positive and uplifting?  Secondly, what are the messages or news I spend my time listening to? If it's fear based, negative and overall "bad" news then I should expect my inner self to feel depleted.