things a servant needs to do
What do we need to do as a servant? Could you get it down to 3 things?
Here’s wha
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“Luke 17:10 NIV
So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'”
Let’s look at these 3 things. You may find more but these are the ones that I landed on.
First, a servant listens. If we don’t know what Christ wants, how can we do what he wants? Knowing what he wants for us today, comes from the Bible. It is the safest way to know what Jesus wants. Occasionally we may hear through the promptings of the Spirit what we are to do. However we should never major on that one. We have clarity from the Bible on God’s moral will for us.
So a servant listens.
Second a servant obeys. this verse as a tough part because it says when we have done everything. Complete obedience is hard. It takes guts and courage. Obedience forces us to make hard choices. We’ll even have to comply with Christ’s wishes when no one else is watching.
Finally, we see from this verse that is about attitude. We don’t think we’re a bigger deal than we are. Even if we follow Christ completely we have no room to brag because for most of us we only do what Jesus asks. Have we ever gone beyond that? Humble service is what Jesus desires.
These are the three things I’m thinking this verse says about serving: listening, obeying and attitude. Do you see anything else?
Groups Guy 
Luke 17:10 ESV
So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'”
This translation uses the words commanded and duty. The idea is that the servant did what they were told and shouldn’t expect something for it. I think listening, doing, and humbleness, (knowing our place) are what you are saying here and I see it. I don’t think it is an example for leaders to not thank their followers.
What about the lead up to this? Do we do our “work” and expect God to invite us to the table and serve us? That can turn into formula living. In other words, if I do A God will reward me.
Kyle you noticed a good point. It does look like this text encourages a leader or boss to be demanding. “Yo servant fetch me some more food!”
You point out an important reminder for us in interpreting a parable. In a parable there is generally one intended point from the story. Not everything is significant for us to know and apply. In this parable the focus is on the servant and their willingness to serve. See the link I copied from the NET Bible’s explanation of this text. “Constable’s Notes” are helpful here. See what he says at 17:7-9ff.
We also saw this interpretive point in our reading today in Luke 18. See how Jesus opens the parable on verse one. It is a parable about praying and not giving up. It therefore does not include the governor who is slow to respond. Does that help?