FAITH AND HOW IT HELPS YOU BE A PROFITABLE SERVANT UNTO THE LORD – Luke 17:5
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
The disciples had just been instructed by Jesus to forgive those who did them wrong and sought forgiveness, even if it was seven times in one day. As long as they came and repented, we are to forgive. The disciples did not think they were spiritually ready to be able to constantly forgive one who offended them so many times in one day and as such, they asked Jesus to increase their faith so that way they could obey Jesus’ commandment.
Jesus responded to their request for more faith with two object lessons. In the first object lesson, Jesus stated that how even a little faith can do great things. In the very next verse, Jesus tells them if they had the faith the size of a mustard seed, they could say to a sycamine tree to be plucked out by the roots and be planted in the see.
The second object lesson is a story of duty. Jesus tells about a servant who worked all day in the field, and then comes into the house and prepares a meal for his master. The master does not thank the servant, but after the master eats, then the servant is permitted to go into the other room and eat. Jesus ends the story in Luke 17:10 by saying “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
If all we did was that which was commanded us to do, we are unprofitable servants in the eyes of God. The disciples thought they needed more faith just to obey Jesus’ commandments. However, Jesus was trying to tell them, as servants of God, you are expected to do what HE has commanded you to do, and HE has only commanded you to do those things that HE has already equipped you to do. Thus, you do not need more faith to simply obey. God has equipped us with enough faith to obey HIM. We do not need to be asking HIM for more faith since God would not have commanded us to do something that was beyond our current level of faith. God is not like Pharaoh who gave a task to be completed but did not give the proper supplies to complete the task.
Instead, God as the loving Master who watches our every move desires to see us be profitable servants by taking the little bit of faith that we do have and go out and do the impossible so that HE is glorified. With just a small amount of faith, we have the power to move nature. God has already equipped us beyond just the simple ability to obey. HE has equipped us to go out and do great things for HIM. Our faith in HIM grows as we obey HIM and watch HIM work all things together for good. However, to really cause the Lord to be proud of us, we must be willing to step outside our comfort zone. We must be willing to allow HIM to stretch us beyond that which we think we are able to bear. As HE does the impossible through us, we will see our faith increase.
While the disciples made what appears to be a good request for more faith, Jesus informed them that they did not need more faith in order to do that which HE commanded them to do. A request to increase our faith would be more proper in asking the Lord to do something above and beyond what HE has commanded us to do. Make sure the next time you ask the Lord to increase your faith that you are not doing it like the disciples were here when they asked the Lord to give them the tools to do the job that the Lord had already given them the tools to complete.