The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant
The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant
Introduction:
1. What do you see when you look into the mirror?
2. Are you happy with what you find?
3. More importantly what do you see when you look into the perfect law of liberty?
4. Are you happy with yourself when you compare yourself to the perfect will of God?
5. Most, dare I say all, would probably recognize the need for more faith.
6. Most, again maybe all would also say that there are things that we have done to glorify God.
7. So we are stuck with a view of ourselves that presents us with the good that we have done and the need for further growth.
8. What shall we do then?
9. As we examine both sides of our character we need to be mindful of the parable of the unprofitable servant.
10. Through this parable, Jesus Christ teaches us humility in the face of the good, obedience in the matters of our needs, and a sense of lacking any merit in the sight of God.
11. This is a hard lesson and requires a great deal of honesty toward oneself.
12. As we reveal the implications of this sermon I want you to be honest with yourself and honest with God about how you view your life, both the good things you have done and the things that you need to improve.
I. Every Person Should Ask For An Increase In Faith
A. For what are we really asking? (v. 1-4)
1. We are asking for more faith because we see our failures to be an imitator of Christ
2. In the context Jesus addresses two issues.
a. Jesus points to the disciples failures because they have caused other disciples to stumble.
b. Jesus reveals that repentance is necessary at all times.
3. The Disciples struggled as you and I do because they are human
a. In no way should we consider that the disciples were not susceptible to the same issues we face.
b. They were guilty of pride, arrogance, lack of faith, and impatience to name a few.
4. The disciples were asking for a means to learn how to prevent themselves from falling into these human troubles.
a. We need to heed the lessons of the disciples and all men who have lived by faith – Romans 15:4
b. We need to be like these disciples who saw such problems with their character and faith and wanted to be better.
c. They understood that an increase in faith would heal them.
5. Let us remember why they felt this way.
a. Jesus said in verse 3 “Take Heed to Yourselves.”
b. This is Jesus way of reinforcing what the disciples had already learned.
d. Romans 10:17
e. Because they asked for an increase in faith we need to ask for that as well.
B. The response of Jesus may shock you.
1. Jesus did not give them any special power or gift of faith.
a. There is not potion or saying that will increase your faith.
b. But also know that there is not a necessary amount of faith needed to have great faith. (v. 6)
2. Jesus focuses on the quality of their faith. (v. 6)
a. It is this purity and excellence of beauty in their faith that God desires.
b. Romans 1:17
e. We should be brought to tears with this revelation from Jesus.
1) We should recognize how small our faith really is compared to what we desire.
2) We need to see that the grace of God through true service is the means by which we have a great faith.
3) Jesus reveals that those who came to Him simply because of what they heard were of great faith.
4) Samaritan Woman and the Roman Commander each had great faith.
5) Interestingly Jesus never says of the Apostles that they have great faith rather rebukes them because of their lack of it.
II. Every Person Should Desire To Be God’s Servant
A. When we have finished working in the fields of faith our labors are not done.
1. The person with great faith understands that a true servant does not expect his master to provide him with rest.
a. He sees that there is no obligation on the part of the master to provide one.
b. Therefore, any rest provided by the master is that of grace rather than obligation.
c. Romans 12:1
d. A true servant of God, then, will work ceaselessly for his master who is infinitely gracious.
2. A true servant with great faith expects neither thanks nor commendation.
a. Luke 12:37
b. The watchful, diligent servant prepares himself to work rather than receive any favor from his master.
c. A servants duty is hard and difficult
d. Notice what v. 9 reveals about how Jesus understands the master-servant relationship.
3. Isaiah 64:6 emphasizes the fact that service requires nothing on the part of the master.
a. Too often Christians expect something for their service.
1) A good marriage
2) A healthy life
3) Financial security
4) Peace and Security from the evil in this world
5) A pat on the back for working for the Lord
6) A time of rest to enjoy the work they have accomplished.
b. God owe you none of these things.
c. God expects you to work ceaselessly and tirelessly.
d. God’s expectation of complete obedience exists because we are His servants.
e. Only by working with this attitude will we understand true service.
B. When we do what is commanded we are still unprofitable. (v. 10)
1. We should not expect accolades for doing our duty.
a. A faithful servant will obey the commands of his master even when is pushed to his limits.
b. Job 22:2
c. The point is that even if we suffer hardships that does not increase our favor or value in the eyes of God.
1) We cannot do good works and go to heaven.
2) We cannot expect God to give us salvation if we are relying about what we have done in the past.
3) Have ye not read that “Today is the day of salvation.”
d. God is no respecter of persons
2. We must recognize the duty to serve does not diminish because there is no accolade or benefit.
a. Luke 9:62
b. God is looking at our persistence in doing what we are bound to do.
e. Revelation 14:13 reveals a great deal about our attitude to serve
1) It says that our only true rest comes when we are dead.
2) Those that desire this rest must die in the Lord.
III. Every Person Should Be Thankful That Our Master Is Infinitely Gracious
A. God’s grace is what is at the bottom of Pandora’s box
1. In the face of godlessness, greed, corruption, sexual promiscuity, and reject of morality there exists God’s unmerited favor.
2. Consider Noah and that God found favor in Noah.
a. The world was about to be destroyed.
b. Yet the favor God found with now came in the midst a sinful world where Noah was the only one to have found favor.
c. Genesis 6:8
B. We must remember that the grace of God is what brings salvation not what we do.
a. What else must we require of God?
b. To expect Christ to accept us simply because we acknowledge His existence and sacrifice excluding obedience is a willful refusal to accept God’s grace.
c. Romans 4:2
d. Romans 6:3-4
e. Luke 6:46
2. The mustard seed lodged in our hearts needs time, attention and nourishment.
a. The cultivation of the purity of the seed increases our faith.
c. God’s grace projects onto us a sense of unprofitability.
d. We cannot bridge the gap between man and salvation without God’s grace.
e. It is therefore necessary to realize that not we can do can put us in heaven only by our faith in God can we be allowed to find unmerited favor in God’s eyes.
Conclusion:
1. What do you expect from God?
2. Do you expect to have time to rest or not work?
3. This parable should be a shock to you.
4. It reveals the nasty side of life; in that many who see the good side expect to pay them for what they were commanded to do.
5. We should be taught that God owes us nothing but we owe him everything.
6. We should learn that it is our duty to work without rest, thanks, or commendation.
7. We should understand that we are wholly dependent upon God’s grace based upon our faith.
8. No matter how many times we have done good: feeding the poor, reading our bibles, giving to charity, coming to worship, loving our neighbor, praying to God, or anything else we think we can be proud of; we have done nothing other than what we were supposed to do.
9. Because you have done these things, do you expect anything from God?
10. Luckily God has given us His grace.
11. Plan of Salvation.
Posted in: Preaching, Sermon Outlines, Service, Work of the Church