I would ask you to contemplate these two verses together,
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
And
“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.” (Luke 17:10)
As I have stated before, there are no contradictions in the Scriptures, but there are many places where, as Peter said of Paul’s words, they can be hard to understand. Here are two examples, if we obey the commandments, if we do all that was commanded of us, we are to count ourselves unprofitable, yet the Lord says that we show our love by obeying His commandments.
I am no more than a servant, and nearly every letter that I am led to pen for you I fear I have missed the mark, and that even if I continue to write until I run out of paper, I would not be able to express or expound properly on the subject matter set before me. But I try, I submit, I ask the Lord that each word would in some way glorify Him.
Is that going what I will term “above and beyond,” is that what we are asked to do so that we will be profitable, more than what has been asked of us?
Contemplate this verse as well if you will.
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 25:30)
To fully understand a thing we must understand the inverse of it, and here truth is found, only those that are profitable will enter into the Kingdom of the Living God.
One must understand that it is not the works we do that make us profitable, it is the works done through us by the Holy Spirit, that we must be a willing servant, for the Almighty will not force virtue on any of us. Where then is this profitableness attained, how are we to do more so as not to be unprofitable, how can we use personal initiative to perform more than what we have been commanded to do?
This question must be allowed to formulate in your mind, for if you are doing no more than what has been commanded of you, then my friends there is great danger, for the Scriptures are clear as to what happens to unprofitable servants.
Consider Luke 29:17, “And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”
And what of the one who buried the coin? What of these letters, am I commanded or compelled? What of the thousands of tracts my lovely wife hands out, the one who cleans the church, or the widow who gives much of the little she has? What are you doing that is above and beyond what you have been commanded to do?
“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)
Zacchaeus went beyond.
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Mary went beyond.
Take some time, do the research, search the Scriptures, find those that went above and beyond, who did more than what was commanded of them, of the profitable servants in the Word of God. It is not just worth your time, it may be one of the best uses of your time, for it will reveal to you if indeed you are profitable.
You know as well as I do that the majority of people you meet are not going to heaven,
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14)
But how many perform the functions, the obligations if you will of the commandments of the Lord believing themselves to be profitable. Sit in the pew, sing the songs, then back to the world, the work completed for the week.
Actions follow the heart, the heart that serves desires to please, to give honor to Him who we follow.
Not all servants are profitable, find out how to be one that is.