"Slave or Servant"

 "Slave and or Servant"

In the short parable from the Gospel reading this morning we heard these two words used, slave and servant.  How do the words slave and servant make you feel?   In your opinion are there more similarities than differences? Or is it the other way around.  

Oct 6 2019:  Psalm 137,  2 Timothy 1: 1-14,  Luke 17: 5-10

I think that most of us over 45 grew up with sermons and scripture interpretations based on good old fire and brimstone.  The thrust of the preacher’s sermons were usually centered on shame, guilt or sin. It is not surprising how often even today church members and worship leader assume a punitive, correctional or inflecting tone when reading or hearing biblical texts.   Many people outside the church see Christianity as a guilt ridden condescending religion to what they call the unsaved.   The problem I believe is, that this type of thinking and or training actually placed barriers between ourselves and God, who dwells within scripture tells us, offering to love and forgives us unconditionally.   Jesus never talked much about being saved, in fact I challenge you to find one reference in the Gospels where He asks someone the question, are you saved?   But he sure does talk a lot about faith and how faith can make you whole or move mountains or calm the storms of life.  It was the faith of an oppressed black culture in the west that inspired songs like  Sing “Over My head”

What if we were to re-read the part about more faith with a different tone, hearing it as not scolding the apostles but a challenge to take them to a new and deeper understanding faith?   What if Jesus is not shaking his finger at them in condemnation for showing little faith but is actually commending them, for the faith they have already shown.  Faith is something that you have to demonstrate, not something you get.  Jesus tells them that even a small amount of their faith can move mountains, turn things around, even great miracles can be manifested with just a little faith.  I hear in his tone, not condemnation but the voice of encouragement and the voice of love.  Take the time at home to re- read again the passage about faith, but with a more rewarding, encouraging tone. 

In fact they already have enough faith to do whatever is required of them and so do you.  You see it not about getting more faith it is about strengthen the little faith we all receive in the beginning.   Try thinking of your faith as a muscle, the more you exercise it the stronger it gets.  May I suggest that Jesus uses the example of the mustard seed to say that faith cannot be measured by quantity, it is not quantifiable and you cannot measure it.  Faith is just faith, there are no larger amounts of it, but you can strengthen it by exercising it, so it can un-lease its power.   Yes even a small amount of faith can turn things around in all circumstances folks.  In fact if you show faith and trust in Jesus even in small ways, others will benefit.    You don’t possess faith, but faith can possess you.   Now think about that because the same goes for material things and yes even evil itself; you don’t possess them but they can possess you.   Faith is not something you can store up for rainy day, later on when you need it, faith, if you exercise this gift from God, it becomes for the believer, a way of living. 

A person of faith produces visible fruit that others can see.  They live in wisdom judging no one, fully aware of their own flaws and shortcomings.  There are aware that their love for the Lord over powers selfish desire and habitual cravings.  Their desire to seek personal pleasure, is over shadowed by a want to be a servant to others.  They appear to live virtually free from lust, fear or anger. They didn’t all of a sudden wake up one day with faith, their faith grew in them as they practice it, and of course you know the old saying “PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT”.   People who claim to be saved but show no visible signs of faith are only fooling themselves.  Faith requires a strong foundation to rest upon and that foundation is built on trust and obedience to the ways of our Lord.  “Believe in me” Jesus says, “Act out what I teach and your faith will gain you eternal life.      

In the second part of the passage there is a small parable.  Here we must understand the context in which Jesus uses the words servant and slave.  During the time of Jesus, the words servant or slave were often inter changeable.  In order to be a servant in biblical times you would not just be employed in the service industry.   You would have been bought and therefore your master would own you.  Hence you would be considered by your master both slave and servant.  You were to do what was expected of you and the society of the time saw that as normal.  In other words you just couldn’t quit your job or leave your master.  Your master would have to grant your freedom.  In the parable may I suggest that Jesus is illustrating to his listeners and to us that we should consider ourselves bought, to be servants of God in the same way?  Jesus bought and paid the ultimate price for each and every one who would follow in his way, therefore we are His.  We are now like the worthless slave He suggests in the reading.   We just can walk away from our baptism, our commitment to live as Jesus lived.   If we have made the commitment to follow in his way, then we too like the servant in the parable cannot just quit our jobs as people of faith.  No, we cannot just stop being faithful servants.  Our commitment is for life folks.   It is not like a marriage where you can get a divorce, no it’s for life.    It is as though we have given over our will, for God’s will and we too have no personal freedom unless our Master gives it to us.  Our freedom lay in the fact that salvation frees us from the control of worldly trappings.   This freedom if we accept it cost Jesus his life.  So can you not see his point!!   We cannot complain about not having enough faith or that we have not received any recognition for our faithful works.   We shouldn’t expect any, because It’s our job folks, it is our responsibility.  It goes with the territory.   As you prepare to come to the table this day let us never forget what he has done for you.