Thank You for the Work

Luke 17: 7-10

7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”

Growing up, our mothers taught us to say thank you when someone did something for us, or passed us the mashed potatoes at supper.  I had cousins that would say, “Thank you for the mashed potatoes,” even before they were passed.  

In our jobs, we are taught it is important to say thank you and to show our appreciation for people who work for us.  People like to be appreciated for what they do.  And we like for people to express their appreciation by saying “Thank you!”

In this scripture, Jesus is telling us that when we work for God, our motivation should be our faith and our love for God; that we should not work for recognition or even for a “thank you”.  When we do the work of God, we do it because we cannot imagine not doing it.   

We should say thank you for the work, even before the work has begun.  

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)