Sometimes just a little can go a long way. A gifted sculptor can take just a couple of pieces of what we might think is junk and craft a work of art. My daughter and I often watch those cooking competition shows. A talented chef can be given just a small box with a few ingredients and by the end of the show come up with a marvelous meal. In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus tells us how if we have just a little of something, we can accomplish great things. Let’s take a look.
Earlier in chapter 17, Jesus had been instructing the disciples about forgiveness, and how we need to forgive someone, even if they keep sinning against us seven times a day. Seven times!! That can seem rather overwhelming, so the disciples responded by asking Jesus to increase their faith (vs. 5). Jesus answered them by teaching that if one has faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, one could say to the mulberry tree which was next to Him, to be pulled up and thrown into the sea, and it would be done (vs. 6).
When we pray to God, do we really have faith that He will answer? Do we believe that He hears and will respond to our prayers, or are we just going through the motions with our prayers. The mustard seed in this example that Jesus gave symbolizes genuine, living faith. When we pray, we are not to trust in our own self-confidence, or get all worked up into a frenzy of emotionalism, but instead, we are to trust in God’s promises. That is Who we are to have faith in. Many of our problems can seemingly be as deep-rooted as a strong tree, and seem impossible to move. However, having even mustard seed faith in Jesus can overcome even entrenched spiritual obstacles.
The size of one’s faith isn’t the most important thing. Rather it is Who we have faith in. If we have huge faith, but it’s in some other person, some humanistic philosophy, or a pagan deity, that will do us no good. However, if we have just a little bit of faith, but it is in the Lord Jesus, that is all that will matter.
Jesus teaches us that faith is not about quantity, but about quality. Even the smallest true faith, one that is rooted in God’s Word, is powerful. One doesn’t need “more” faith. What we need is real faith. This faith comes to us by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This faith is strengthened by obedience to God, by prayer, and by studying the Scriptures, not through emotional experiences.
The Lord Jesus then shifted to giving a brief, little parable about how a servant is to do his duty, referring to believers in service to God (vs. 7-10). This short parable illustrates what our role before God is to be. We are His servants, not entitled beneficiaries. As what should be obvious to all, a servant should not expect to be praised for doing what is required of them. They should simply obey their orders. This actually goes against the modern mindset of entitlement that many people have for themselves and others. As God’s Word says, obedience is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
How often do we forget our place before God! Jesus reminds us here what that is. A servant is supposed to serve. It is not the master’s job to wait on the servant. God is our Master and we are the servants. We are creatures. We are people much loved by God, but we are not God. We have a Master who adopted us, who has made us to become children of God when we call upon Jesus. However it is not something that is our due, something that God ought to be giving us. It is what we have because of the love and mercy of Jesus (Mark 10:45).
We should be serving God out of gratitude, not for our own recognition, neither looking for reward or for applause. These verses are a call to humility before God. Our salvation is by grace, not through our own merit. Our works do not earn favor from God. They are the fruit of our faith, not the root. Remember, God does not owe us anything, yet He graciously rewards faithfulness. A true disciple will serve Him without expectation of reward.
As we look back on these short teachings that Jesus gave here, we learn that faith, even if it is small faith, if it is in the Lord God and not ourself or something else, it will be powerful. Our faith can grow stronger through prayer and studying God’s Word, the Bible. We can cultivate our faith by immersing ourselves in Scripture and trusting God’s promises. We also learn here that believers are called to humble, faithful obedience. We are unworthy servants. Our obedience is our duty, not a basis for pride. We exist to glorify God, not the other way around.
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