Above and Beyond

“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Lu 17:10 AV)

This is a hard saying indeed!  The parable describes a servant who spent all day in the fields for his master and upon returning, was required to fix a meal for his boss.  Upon attending to all the needs of his employer, then and only then was this servant allowed to eat himself.  One might look at the requirements of this servant and see them as harsh.  The point our LORD is making here is not necessarily the details of the required tasks, but rather, the required tasks were the minimum of what was required of his employment.  Doing that which was required satisfied the terms of his employment.  Doing that which was required made things even.  The master supplied room and board.  Profit is above and beyond what is required.  The parable above also suggests the servant expected gratitude for doing that which he was hired to do.  In reality, gratitude was given when he was provided room and board.  If he wanted more recognition, then he needed to do more.

I worked in a factory may moons ago that was fairly well automated.  At least the departments in which I labored.  One of those departments was so well automated, there was some idle time that could be used for other things.  I tended to an extruder.  That is a big piece of equipment that mixes material, combined them, and produced a workable new resource for production of other offerings.  Tending to the extruder meant keeping the line stocked with raw materials, storing the finished product for future production, and tending to quality checks.  This didn’t take a great deal of time.  There were other tasks the extruder operator could have performed if he has a bit of ambition.  There were some operators who wanted to do their eight hours and go home.  Others, like myself, cannot stand boredom so we found tasks to take up our time.  No one would fault the operator who simply did what they were paid to do.  Those who found other tasks to take up their time were promoted.  They were given management level responsibilities.  They were the ones the engineers and master operators would include in other projects.  Those who went above and beyond what was required received gratitude in the form of greater responsibility and keeping company with a more dedicated group of people.

Sharing our appreciation for a job well done is something we should do.  Even if it is the bare minimum.  Those who volunteer to work the work of the ministry should be recognized for it.  They labor without earthly pay that the work of the ministry goes on.  The LORD is not saying the master cannot show appreciation for the servant who does what it was his duty to do.  I am sure he did.  What the LORD is saying is that we shouldn’t expect a pat on the back if we are doing only that which is our duty to do.  Soul-winning is everyone’s duty.  Tithing is everyone’s duty.  Prayer is everyone’s duty.  Coming to church is everyone’s duty.  These things sustain the church.  The profitable servant will go above and beyond what is required and volunteer to serve in areas of need or areas where a need has yet to be expressed.  Like we said at the beginning, this is a hard saying.  We want a pat on the back for doing the bare minimum.  What we need is to go above and beyond the minimum if we desire to be recognized.