Duty and Devotion

“As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you. (Luke 17:11-19) (Also read Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:8-15) The healing of the ten lepers and the return of a single one to give thanks to Yeshua is an intriguing story. Much has been made in commentaries and sermons of the ingratitude of the nine. But there is more here than a teaching about thanksgiving.

It declares the joy of faith. “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Verse 17). With these words the story takes its turn; and herein lies its meaning for us. Where were the nine? Obviously they were doing what they had been told to do. Yeshua said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” Such an act was required in Hebrew thought. The priests were required to validate such a miracle. Going to the priests was their duty. And Yeshua had just told them to go! So where were the nine? They were doing what they had been told. They were showing themselves to the priests. There are some fully satisfied to live a life of duty, but only those who move beyond duty to devotion find faith in its fullness. But what of the one? He becomes the hero of the story even though he does not do his duty. Out of a heart full of gratitude, he returns and falls at Yeshua’s feet and praises Him for the healing. His action is welcomed by Yeshua. The healed leper had gone beyond duty to devotion. The account ends with this summary: “Rise and go: your faith has made you well.”

I.) There are people who never do even their duty. These consistently miss the opportunity to do the right things. Responsibility is not a part of their religious vocabulary. These may well know Ephesians 2:8, “We are saved by grace through faith apart from works and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of YAHVEH.” But these forget the following verse, which says, “We are saved unto good works which thee Father has ordained.” Their effectiveness is limited by their unwillingness to allow commitments to decide actions. The level of their commitment is like that of the kamikaze pilot who flew seventeen missions. Think about that a minute. I recall several years ago rushing to complete hospital rounds knowing that I had an afternoon appointment at the church. As I stepped off the elevator, a family stood there whom I didn’t know, but who were distraught. Obviously they had just heard some kind of bad news. There was a compulsion in me to stop, listen, support and pray with the grieving family.

But in looking at my watch, I realized I couldn’t do that and keep the already scheduled appointment at the office. So I walked past the family, headed to my car and made it to the appointment. I don’t believe Elohim smiled on that action. I think it was sin. “To Him who knows to do good and does it not, it is sin” (James 4:17). I’ve confessed my sin to YAHVEH, received YAHVEH’s grace and forgiveness and made the commitment not to let such a thing happen again. But it’s not just busy ministers who bypass opportunities. It happens to us all. I heard of a church in America that had what it called a “quit” meeting. The members shared testimonies and declared the things they determined to “quit” doing. One man rose and declared that he wasn’t sure how many bad habits he had, but he added, “I’ve been doing trifling little for Adonai’s Kingdom and I’m going to quit doing nothing.” His grammar was poor, but his heart was in the right place.

II.) There are those who do their duty and nothing more. Here is the example of the nine. Let’s not get the wrong impression. We should all do our duty, our duty to YAHVEH, church, country and family. Doing one’s duty is a noble thing. Ours would not be a stable world if people failed to do their duty. We are a responsibility-driven people. But as important as duty is, it really is not a major motivator. Duty doesn’t create energy and enthusiasm; or joy! But the best of life is found in moving beyond duty; beyond duty all the way to devotion. Here’s the high ground. Think of Yeshua’ story of the Pharisee in the temple praying. He was doing his duty, praying at the appointed hour. There’s no doubt about his goodness. He was very religious. But he was unaware of the deeper duty to love mercy and to walk humbly with YAHVEH. He did his duty but nothing more. There was another man at the temple, a lowly tax collector who in honest repentance confessed his sin, was welcomed by Elohim and went away justified, Yeshua said. All the while the Pharisee prayed, “I thank you YAHVEH that I’m not like this man.” He was a troubled person. T. S Eliot spoke of this kind of negative motivation when he declared, “This is the greatest reason to do the right thing for the wrong reason.”

III.) There are those who go beyond duty to devotion. These are the ones greatly honoured by Yeshua. In the text above, the one honoured, the single one who returned to give thanks to Yeshua for his healing is honoured not for doing his duty but for his clear devotion to our Adonai. Think of those people in your life who have been the most influential. Some are parents, some pastors and teachers, some friends and neighbours. But even though they are from different walks of life, they hold one thing in common. They did more for you than duty required. They loved you when you were unlovable, stood with you in your most difficult days, challenged you to be your best. They went the extra mile with you and in doing so affected your life forever. Here is the virtue YAHVEH honours most: the authentic expression of devotion rising up naturally out of a committed heart. It speaks of motive. Here is the challenge for us. Some have not done their duty and need to begin. Others have done their duty and perhaps quite well, but haven’t moved beyond the doing of duty to devotion. Still others have as growing disciples learned the joy of living and serving in YAHVEH’s Kingdom. An old sculptor was asked why he took such care in carving the figures to be placed high on the church’s steeple. After all, no one would ever see them up close. “Ah,” he replied, “YAHVEH will see them.” Indeed YAHVEH will. What we do matters. The concerns with which we deal are not trivial. They will last on. Long after the sun has turned to cinder and the last star has burned out, the work of the Kingdom lives on. Thank you YAHVEH, for allowing us to be a part of it.