Saturday 19 July 2008
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have only done what we ought to have done!'" (v.10)
Background
This is the last in a series of four demanding sayings fromJesus from
The first saying (verses 1-2) is about those who might cause "theselittle ones" to stumble - maybe a congregation under the pastoralcare of these particular leaders. The second (verses 3-4) is aboutChurch community discipline - how leaders should respond whensomeone behaves wrongly. In the third saying (verses 5-6) thedisciples are called "apostles", emphasising their status after theResurrection.
It is such people, in positions of authority, who will be motivatedby their status. They will be tempted to act out of desire to beseen as wise, generous or full of faith. But this fourth saying(verses 7-10) takes away any thoughts of living the way of Jesusfor any reward, prize or status. The disciples, and Luke's Churchleaders, are to see doing these difficult things as their duty.They are to be just like slaves who simply do what they aretold.
This saying aims to make sure their attitude is turned around -from doing things for themselves to doing things for others.Instead of being people who do things in order to puff up theirsense of importance, they are to be people who do hard thingsbecause that is the good thing (or the God thing) to do.
These words could easily be directed at those who are alreadypowerless, confirming their menial position as appropriate. Butthat would be to misuse them. The point is not that God will treatus like slaves, or approves of anyone being treated that way. Thefocus is on how those who are in leadership think of themselves. Weare not to treat ourselves as the ones in charge and build up ourego. Instead, we get on and do what must be done.
To Ponder
Who are the Christian leaders you know who areprepared to "labour and not to ask for any reward save that ofknowing that we do your will"? (From a prayer by Ignatius Loyola -founder of the Jesuits.) What can you learn from their example?
How can we hold the tension between healthyself-esteem and the challenge of these verses?