Sometimes we hear a Christian speak of another believer, and they say that he or she is a person with great faith, often speaking that statement with some degree of awe and respect. Then we often hear just the opposite, that this or that person, or even themselves, have very little faith, especially if there is some pressing need that they have been praying about. A lack of faith can be very disappointing to oneself and to others. In our brief Scripture passage for today, the apostles desired to have greater faith than they felt they had. Let’s take a look.
As our Scripture opens, the apostles came to Jesus, desiring to have more faith (vs. 5). They had been with Jesus now for many months, and no doubt observed His great faith. When He prayed over people, they were healed. When He demanded that demons depart, they immediately left. This was Someone with no lack of faith, and now the apostles wished for more faith than they had.
Jesus responded to their request by stating that even if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, which is a very small seed, we could speak to a tree, that it be pulled up by the roots and be cast into the sea, and it would happen (vs. 6). The seed Jesus was referring to was a small seed coming from a plant in central and western Asia that grew into a large plant, often at least ten feet tall. It is not the amount of faith that matters, as even a small mustard seed amount is enough. However, it is in what our faith is based in that matters. If our faith is based on our own strength and ability, it won’t get us very far. The same is true if it is resting on someone else, as well. Neither will faith in any pagan or heathen god or philosophy. They will only lead one to an eternity in hell. Our faith must be placed only and completely on the Lord Jesus Christ and His ability, and nothing else.
Jesus told His apostles that if they had faith even the size of that tiny mustard seed they could do great things. God does not enlarge our faith instantly. He begins with what little faith we have, and then proceeds to grow it. The Lord will provide occasions for us to believe Him and to respond to Him in obedience. The more we trust and obey Jesus, the stronger our faith becomes. We may call these occasions problems, but they are opportunities designed by God for the purpose of increasing our faith so that He can then do great things in and through us.
The amount of faith we believe we may have is never anything to be bragging about or to put on show for others. It is a total dependence on God, not ourselves, and a willingness to do His will. It is complete and humble obedience to God’s will, and a readiness to do whatever He calls us to do. It is not how much faith we have, but in Whom we place that faith.
Jesus then continued on by telling of how a servant will do a day’s work, and then prepare his master’s meal. The servant doesn’t come in from work and have the master wait on him (vs. 7-10). An obedient servant will do what is expected of him. If we have obeyed God, we have only done our duty, and we should regard it as a privilege. Obedience is not something extra that we do. It is our duty.
In our service to God, if we do not fully obey Him, and instead decide to do our own thing, or think in our hearts, “Look what I’ve done!”, and do not give all the glory to God, then our service is worthless. Have we forgotten our place before God, who He is and what we are? If we have done something we think is great, do we begin to get proud, and feel that God ought to commend us? We are God’s servants, and are supposed to serve Him. What we do for Him is only our duty. Our obedience to God does not put Him in debt to us, as if He owes us anything because of how “good” we’ve been.
Jesus is not saying that our service is meaningless or useless. The Bible does tell us that believers will receive rewards (II Corinthians 5:10). However, we should not have an over-inflated self-esteem or spiritual pride. We should never grow proud over the things we accomplish through the Holy Spirit’s power.
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