The Unprofitable but Good Servant

I am often amazed by the depth of insights in God's Word in passages familiar to me.  It is similar to sitting down to assemble a challenging jigsaw puzzle and find myself unable to find the piece I am looking for.  How many times have I walked away from the puzzle to make a tea or grab a snack and seconds after returning find many pieces which fit!  The internal consistency and accuracy of the Bible provides exceptionally strong evidence of its divine origin.

Take the parable Jesus told of the master who gave one mina (worth about 3 month's salary according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary) to ten of his servants and told them, "Do business until I return."  Luke 19:15-16 says, "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'"  The first servant who reported to his master had been most productive.  Undoubtedly he threw himself into his master's business and came away with a sizable profit.  In the hands of this faithful servant the mina had multiplied into ten.

Now had I been this servant who reported on the results of trading almost every sentence I can think of would start with "I":  "I invested the money in gold" or "I earned ten minas."  What would you say of your accomplishment, happy to report concerning your success?  The servant simply said, "Master, your mina has earned ten minas."  This servant completely downplayed his role in investing, trading, working long hours to achieve this good result.  Listening to him it seems the exponential increase had nothing to do with him:  without the money provided by his master he would have nothing.  He remained a servant despite his success, for all he had (and himself besides!) belonged to his master.  More than a savvy businessman, this servant was truly humble.  That's what came through to me.

Luke 19:17 says, "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'"  Is it any surprise the master commended his faithful and humble servant?  The good servant demonstrated rule over management of time and resources, and he who is faithful over little will be faithful over much.  What great virtues are honesty, integrity, and humility, and these God will reward such who walk in obedience to Him.  Proverbs 16:32 says, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."  The servant demonstrated himself faithful with the master's money so the master gave him cities to oversee.  Wise business and wealth management has many benefits, but the humility of the servant is what I covet to see reflected in my life by God's grace.  We cannot blame God for our failure but ought to always honour Him in our success.

Should humility ever be perceived within me, like the good servant I cannot rightly lay claim to it being my doing though it involves effort and sacrifices.  Humility is not my natural inclination or desire.  What Jesus taught in Luke 17:7-10 illustrates this well:  "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? ⁸ But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? ⁹ Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  We couldn't even be slaves except God had purchased us by His grace.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Worship in Secret

During a conversation a friend of mine made a wonderful observation of genuine worship by Gideon who trusted God.  The Bible reveals God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites who oppressed them.  Though he did not feel worthy or even competent to do what God commanded him, he was obedient as God led him step by step.  God was gracious to speak to Gideon and confirmed his calling, and he was emboldened and empowered to take a leadership role.

As the Midianites and Amelekites camped in numbers beyond measure, one night God commanded Gideon to venture into their camp because He had delivered it into Gideon's hand.  God told Gideon if he was afraid to go alone he could bring his servant with him--and he did.  Judges 7:13-15 describes what Gideon and his servant encountered:  "And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed." ¹⁴ Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." ¹⁵ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."

How amazing is this?  In enemy territory and darkness Gideon silently worshiped the LORD.  The Hebrew word translated "worshiped" means "to prostrate, bow down, do reverence, made to stoop."  When he heard the dream of the man and the interpretation which included God delivering Midian into his hand, worship was his reflex.  The text does not tell us Gideon even said a word as he worshiped God, but it was real and received by God who knows the hearts and thoughts of men.  It is good to sing praises unto the LORD and express our gratefulness through words and deeds to extol and glorify Him.  In the secret place of our hearts, having been made holy by faith in Jesus Christ, we find a private and personal temple to honour and worship the almighty God whose presence dwells within us.

Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5-6, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."  Those who are born again can pray to our heavenly Father "who is in the secret place," who created, redeemed, and loves us.  Part of a routine health exam is the testing of knee reflexes:  is the worship of God in the secret place of your heart a regular reflex for you?  In darkness we can worship God in light of His goodness and faithfulness.  In the camp of the enemy we are enabled to celebrate God's triumph and faithfulness--even before the conflict is complete.

Remembrance and Responsibility

Remembrance Day is observed in Australia on 11 November to remember and honour Australians soldiers.  What was once called "Armistice Day" was later called "Remembrance Day" after World War II, and many in Australia pause and observe a minute of silence at 11am to respectfully remember those killed or wounded in warfare.  Though it is not a national holiday from work, it is fitting such sacrifice and bravery be remembered today and for generations to come.  Those who have been granted knowledge also have a responsibility to enlighten their children.  This is a very light burden compared to those who lost family members in war or being a soldier who never lived to have children of their own.

This coupling of remembrance and responsibility is seen when the children of Israel were brought into the promised land by Joshua.  God caused the Hebrews to pass through the Jordan on dry ground and directed 12 men to each carry a large stone from the river to make a memorial.  To be numbered among those who experienced the miracle by God's hand meant there was responsibility to instruct their children of the future generation.  Joshua 4:21-24 says, "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; ²³ for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

God commanded stones be arranged as a memorial so a future generation would know of God's great salvation, deliverance, and faithfulness--and it wasn't to stop there.  Generation after generation of God's people were to be taught of God and His fame was to spread to "all the peoples of the earth," that all would know the mighty hand of God and fear Him forever.  If God's people neglected to teach their children, how would their children know God?  How could all the people of the earth hear of His mighty works?  Memorials or special days do not guarantee the knowledge of God, for Judges 2:10 describes what happened after the death of Joshua and those he commanded:  "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel."  We cannot blame the first generation for the second not knowing the LORD, for how many believers in God have raised their children with the benefits of church who did not fear Him?

Whether or not our children are receptive to the things of God does not release us from our responsibility before God to teach them of Him.  The Joshua passage shows in answering simple questions we can wisely include wisdom from the scriptures as we remind ourselves of the mighty hand of God.  It is not for us to change people or guilt them into church or ministry involvement to please us.  Jesus commanded His followers to receive communion together and "Do this in remembrance of Me."  The death and resurrection of Jesus impacts our lives every day forever, not just on Christmas or Easter.  What humility Jesus showed by taking on human flesh as the only begotten Son of God!  What love He demonstrated for us unworthy sinners by laying down His life on Calvary!  What power over sin and death He displayed when He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father in glory!  We who remember are responsible before God to walk in light of His salvation, redemption, and forgiveness in the fear of the LORD.  If we will not teach our children by Christ's example, who will?

As You Follow

"Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. ¹⁵ Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'"

Amos 7:14-15

Angered by what Amos said, Amaziah the priest of Bethel scorned Amos for being a foreigner and accused him of being a self-appointed profiteer in prophet's clothing.  In response Amos pointed out he had no aspiration or desire to be a prophet but God took him as he followed the flock as a sheepbreeder (and seasonal harvester) and directed him to prophecy to Israel.  Being a prophet did not run in his family, nor had Amos the benefit of schooling or training.  His prophecies which came to pass were the best evidence God had called, ordained and gifted him as a prophet.  The fulfillment of prophecies over time would confirm the calling of Amos.

One thing which resonates with me about Amos is his testimony that God took him as he followed the flock.  There is no suggestion Amos possessed passion for public speaking, to labour for government reform, or for ministry beyond his ordinary sphere:  God had other plans.  Amos was a man who feared God and simply was going about his business when God gave him a clear directive to speak on His behalf to Israel.  I do not believe Amos earned the role due to his faithfulness but was called because God is gracious and faithful.  Though God's ways are higher than ours, perhaps the principle Jesus held forth in Luke 16:10 was a factor:  "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Amos was faithful in the secular arena and God provided a spiritual revelation for him to share.

The testimony of Amos has the potential to provoke a similar response in skeptics and believers:  how did Amos know God was calling him?  It is not the skeptic who makes arrogant demands upon God to prove Himself which concerns me (for even miracles do not make believers) but believers who genuinely are curious for themselves.  The first thing is not to obsess over what God might call you to do, when the call will come, or what future ministry might look like.  Believers can make the mistake of looking for our future "calling" instead of looking to Jesus as we are faithful today in what seems a little thing.  Working in a shop, farm or office as unto the LORD is as important as delivering a message from God to a wayward nation.  Colossians 3:23-24 exhorts us, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Having responded to the call of Christ we are directed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God as we go about our business.

The God who took Amos as he followed the flock also enabled him to accomplish the good works God ordained for him.  Breeding sheep and picking fruit is not a career path to being a prophet, but God often takes the unqualified in the eyes of others and equips them supernaturally to show the work is of God.  Jesus called fishermen from Galilee and a tax collector to be apostles; He called a murderous Pharisee to be an apostle to the Gentiles!  He put it in the hearts of people who were uniquely skilled in business and sport to go to seminary or go as missionaries to spread the Gospel.  People have given their lives to toil anonymously in remote places without recognition because God was faithful who called them.

The call to "go" is not just for prophets but for all followers of Jesus Christ.  What is often called the Great Commission is not limited to evangelism in foreign fields but primarily making disciples of Jesus in the place on earth God has placed you.  Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."  In the authority of God Amos went and spoke and it is Jesus Christ we stand and proclaim His glory through faithful service unto Him right where we are.  Being connected as a branch to the Vine Jesus Christ ensures we will be fruitful and experience His abundant life as He leads us.