Serving Without Thought of Reward

Scripture:  Luke 17:7-10

7 "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down  at table'?  8 Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

Reflection: Did you ever did something for someone and expected to be thanked? We often give our time and  efforts for others but expect something in return. In our work places, we do overtime only when we will get extra payment by the hour.  There is nothing wrong with expecting something in return for your labors because it is the right of every man. But when it comes to God, we treat Him the same way as we treat others--- If we give Him something, then He owes us something.

Jesus' teaching about the good servant who expects nothing from his master tells us something about our relationship with God. God cannot owe us anything, whatever we give to God is due to Him and we could never match what He has given us. When God sent His Son to die for our sins, He could have thought that He has given too much. But in His generosity, He continues to bless us because of His love. He even continues to give Himself to this day through the Blessed Sacrament.

When we offer up something to God, He is under no obligation to give something back, but He still does anyway because He loves us. He is a Father who wants to bless His children with all the good things, and He never tires of blessing us. And the best thing is, we can never outgive God. When we give Him one, He gives back ten.

When we serve God with our time and talents, we are merely giving back to Him what He has blessed us with. Let us serve Him out of love and gratitude and not for anything we could get back in return. God deserves it.

May God bless us with abundance and generous hearts that we may humbly serve those who have no means to help themselves. May the only goal that matters to us is to please Him.