Unprofitable Servants

Reflecting on servanthood in Luke 17:7-10, a servant is one who...
1. Seeks no affirmation
2. Faithful to his obligation
3. Serves without expectation of reward.

By using the metaphor of a servant, the apostles understood the level of commitment and humility required to truly follow Jesus.

Christianity is not an easy path. It's ideals are humanly difficult. But we are blessed by the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit.

The lives of thousands of Saints, through the Spirit's power, also remind us that "Christianity is possible." To serve Christ with a servant's attitude is possible.

In today's world, we do not see Servanthood being espoused in commercials and ads. The lure is to live an "easy life", to be recognized, to have power and fame. Christianity with it's Gospel of the Cross does not seem to fit in the world's standards.

But the Lord wants us to live a blessed life, more so to live in abundance. Contrary to the world, true abundance is in knowing Him, following Him, and in serving Him.

Only in having a personal relationship with the Master can we truly appreciate why to live in abundance is to be an unprofitable servant of Christ.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

Your Servant is Listening

When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)


When the Lord first revealed Himself to Samuel the prophet, Samuel did not recognize His voice and thought it was Eli calling Him.  Eli advised Samuel that it was the Lord calling. So, on the third time, Samuel recognized the Lord and said, "Speak, for your  servant is listening."


Here are some of my reflections:


1. We need a mentor.  Eli was Samuel's mentor and helped him in recognizing the voice of the Lord.  In our spiritual journey, when we do not seem to hear the Lord, the Lord has sends us people to help us hear Him.  That person may be a priest in your area, your prayer group leader, your parents, or a friend.


2. We need to obey. Samuel could have dismissed Eli's advise for visions and revelations were uncommon during Samuel's time.  But He followed Eli's advice and he recognized the Lord.  Obedience  requires discipline, commitment, and humility.  Most often, obedience does not require us to fully understand a situation, but to trust.  When we are given a new service assignment by our leaders, we do not fully understand yet why we were chosen or if ever we will succeed.  Often we only realize the wisdom when we have obeyed and proceeded with the service.


3. We need have a posture of servant.  The word servant had a deeper impact in the Ancient times.  It meant that you have no freedom and that you have been bought to do your master's bidding. So when Samuel said, "Speak for your servant is listening," he had the posture of being fully disposed of whatever the Lord wants Him to do.  Often, we are choosy. We complain and grumble.  The posture of a servant is humble and submissive.  It is through humble hearts where the Lord speaks loud and clear. 


Today let us listen to our Lord and do his bidding.

The Least of All

Is it our concern to be great? I do not think the saints and even John Paul the Great was concerned about being  great. Our concern is to be like a child, a servant, a shepherd.  To be the least, so that Christ will be great.

An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest. jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a child, stood him by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the one who sent. For the one who is least among you all is the greatest." (Luke 9:46-48)

The problem with pride is no matter how much we conceal it, it's nature is to surface in the open.  Pride is full of hot air and it's tendency is to rise, making us shallow.   The practice of humility is one of temperance and invisibility. Humility is from the word "humus" means earth. Humility brings us to the ground and leads us to a life of depth.