In Luke 17 Jesus tells an interesting little story. He asks those present if they can imagine a master when his servant comes in from working in the field to sit down and be fed and have a drink. The implied answer is, “No. We can not imagine that.” Jesus goes on to say, that the master will command the servant to prepare food, change his clothes and then serve the master dinner, after which the servant can eat.

We live in an entitled time, and this kind of servitude is foreign to us, but in that day, this would have seemed the natural expectation. The servant would do all the work the master required and then his own needs would be provided for.

King David was known as a worshipper. He wrote a large portion of the Psalms. He was noted for creating an atmosphere of 24/7 worship at the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. So it’s interesting to compare this story by Jesus with Psalm 23. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. My cup runs over!”

David was a faithful shepherd, so God made him “shepherd” of His people. David was a faithful worshipper, and God fed him abundant spiritual food.

It is important to note that Jesus told this story in response to the disciples prayer for more faith. He told them they must forgive, over and over, no matter how many times they were offended by another person. They said, “OH! Lord, increase our faith!” Believing that we will be ok, when what God asks us to do is long, arduous and seemingly fruitless requires tremendous faith!

But I think Jesus is teaching us an important spiritual principle in this story. It is not just about faithfulness in the field, tending those stubborn sheep.

It is important to remember where the food for the work comes from. “Prepare something. Change your clothes. Serve me a meal. Then you will eat and drink.”

When we offer a sacrifice of praise, when we come in from our toil and let our worship refresh our countenance and appearance and we focus on our God and serve Him personally, He in turn prepares for us a table in the presence of our enemies, and fills our cup to overflowing!

It is important also that bit about “in the presence of our enemies.” When we leave the field outside, and turn our backs to our injurers, and our eyes on our God, our perspective changes. The enemies get a lot smaller and less important.

In the creation story of Genesis 1, evening and morning make one day. Our own rhythm doesn’t seem to acknowledge this biblical pattern. We leave work, we think rest and evening are ours- the end of one day, but when the servant in Jesus story comes in, he ends one day, and starts a fresh one, by lavishing care and service on his master at the start of a fresh day.  I think Jesus would have us remember this when it comes to forgiveness. Each day, close the door on the offenses of that day, and let yourself be fed with Spiritual food and drink, by remembering Him who holds first allegiance.

Jesus lived this out throughout His ministry. He would spend long days ministering to the people, performing miracles and teaching them, then at evening when the disciples were tired and begging Him to send the people away so they could rest, Jesus would send the disciples away, and then the people, and then He would pray!

Jesus spent hours late into the night praying. After your field work, there is table work, and then you will eat.

Jesus also showed us God’s response to this story at the Last Supper. Here the Master gets up, sets aside His robes and authority and washes the servants feet. Then He takes the bread of His own body and feeds them; the wine of His own blood and gives them a drink.

If we think that we fulfil Rule 1, by doing Rule 2, and we let our prayers become board meetings about field production. We run a marathon on an empty stomach! When our prayers are steeped in worship, when we stop to love Him, just for Him, we abide in His love for us, and it feeds us for the next day!

Furthermore, if we don’t abide in His love, He says, we can do nothing. Our faith grows when we abide, because then we have strength for the race and we bear fruit! When we don’t abide, there is no fruit and our faith withers.

Don’t get so caught up in the field work, that you neglect your table work. It’s the best part!