Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
There’s entitlement, and then there’s hope. Which motivates you in your relationship with the Lord?
In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus reminds us of our position: beloved servants of the Father, but 
servants nonetheless:
“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'”
Jesus challenges us not to pat ourselves on the back about all our good deeds in ministry but rather to be prepared always to serve the Lord as well, no matter how weary or worn we might feel.
Are we rewarded every day in large and small ways by God? It might be more accurate to say God blesses us every day in large and small ways. The quality of those day-to-day blessings isn’t determined by the size of our works. We don’t get to a certain level as we might in an online game and get a big reward of points or extra playing time.
That’s not to say our efforts aren’t noticed and appreciated by God, just as the master in the parable likely noticed the servant’s work. But after all, he or she was only doing what was commanded. And so it is with those who follow Christ. Showing our faith through love, in helping others and in worship, is what we are obliged to do. We’re not entitled to blue ribbons or big trophies from God when we serve Him well here on earth. We hope living in a manner He finds pleasing and blessing Him at all times will win us something far better after this.
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