Serving God is a vital aspect of our Christian walk, essential for spiritual growth and success in all areas of life. With Christ's perfect example as our standard, we can trust that if God opens a door for us to serve, we will fulfill His will, as He supplies our lack through the Holy Spirit. Our role in serving is to maintain an attitude of availability and to recognize the call to serve when it comes, trusting God to work through us rather than relying on our own abilities. As we practice serving, we grow accustomed to God's guidance, gain confidence, and learn to set aside our human nature, humbly directing all praise and credit to Him. We must also understand that we cannot choose the areas in which we will serve; God determines our tasks, and there is nothing He calls us to do that we cannot accomplish well with our best efforts. No matter who benefits from our service or how they respond, it is ultimately God whom we serve. Serving should not be driven by emotions or a desire for approval, but by a steadfast commitment, similar to the dedication we show in tithing. As servants of Christ, we are to perform our duties with sincerity of heart, doing the will of God wholeheartedly, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same from the Lord.

When God calls His people, they may take their faith for granted and become susceptible to anger at offenses and persecution. Jesus therefore cautions His apostles in Luke 17:1-6 against such pitfalls by warning of inevitable attacks on His teaching and by requiring a loving, forgiving attitude toward repentant offenders. Recognizing their own weakness, the apostles request an increase of faith. Jesus responds by uniting this instruction with the Parable of the Unprofitable Servants in Luke 17:7-10, which stresses the disciple's obligation to serve the Master without expectation of release or reward. His followers must render complete obedience regardless of trials and must conquer their own human nature through suffering. The faith required is not an increase in quantity that seeks reward but a living faith, small yet genuine, that rests on the conviction God exists, on awareness of an intimate relationship with Him, and on absolute submission to His will. As bondservants, believers are not their own; Christ bought them with His blood, so God owns them, their possessions, and their time. They remain at His disposal and must give total effort at all times. Images of plowing and tending sheep illustrate spiritual labor to which Christ calls His followers. A master need not immediately refresh or compensate a servant who has performed these tasks, for the servant has merely done his duty. Before resting, the servant must prepare and serve his master's meal. From the master's perspective, all prior work constitutes obligation, and further obedience is still required. The servant's needs come only after the master's. No servant should expect immediate praise or compensation, because the limit of duty is the master's will and the servant is always a debtor of service. Servants obey because they belong to the Master and love Him, not to obtain thanks. God promises rewards, yet these come as a result of dedicated obedience rather than as payment owed. Even after fulfilling every requirement, servants remain unprofitable in comparison with Christ's own suffering and sacrifice. No excess credit can be earned. The only way to obtain increased faith is through steadfast, persevering obedience grounded in humility and empowered by the Holy Spirit, whose fruit includes faith. A humble, obedient, serving attitude therefore fosters both greater faith and genuine forgiveness.