Lagniappe:”lan-ˌyap.”  Oh the fun of learning Cajun words.  It means “something extra” and today during my Bible study I found an example of it.

I was reading in Luke 17 and came across a section that its not in any of the other gospels, Luke 17:7-10.  Upon first reading this section it sounds like strange.  The pericope in my ESV gives it the title “Unworthy Servants.”  And the point of this section is that a servant does his job without the thought of getting thanks.  A servant simply does what he is commanded to do according to verse 9.

The first time reading through this I was a little confused by the context.  Right before these verses Jesus is talking about the power of faith, that even a little faith can do great things.  Following these verses we are told about 10 leperswho are healed, yet only one, a Samaritan, comes back to thank Jesus.  How are these things tied together?

1. Faith is not an end to itself, it grows as it is used through service.
2. Faith can do the impossible (move trees in verse 6) but it is also required for the routine tasks of life.
3. God owes us nothing, everything we get from Him is lagniappe.
4. Jesus displays the exact humble service that he commands by healing 10, knowing that only 1 will be thankful.

Therefore, let us all be unworthy servants, do what is right simply because that is what God has called us to do.  Don’t do it for the praise, the honor, the reward, do it because its what Christ did.

Tags: Bible Study, Luke 17