when there's no applause

Luke 17:7-10 - 7And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’

When there’s no applause…

• Our good deeds should shine (Matt. 5:14-16)

–But for whose glory? (1 Cor. 10:31)

–Are we serving God just to be seen by men? (Matt. 6:1-8; 23:1-12)

–Whose approval are we seeking? (Luke 16:15; John 5:44 Rom. 2:29)


• Our good deeds should shine

• God does not owe us (Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Chron. 29:13-16; Eccl. 12:13)

–We owe Him! (Rom. 5:6-8; 1 John 4:19)

–We serve because we love Him (John 14:15; Col. 3:14)



• God does not owe us

• We seek righteousness because it is right, not so that we might be praised (Luke 6:31-36; Psa. 19:7-11; Acts 20:35)



• God does not owe us

• We seek righteousness because it is right, not so that we might be praised

• God will not forget your labor (Heb. 6:10-12; Matt. 25:34-40; 1 Cor. 15:58)


Matt. 22:37-40 - 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

when there's no applause

Spiritual