“So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Lk 17:6 NKJV)

This oft-quoted verse paints a vivid picture of faith. It is believing that God is capable of doing what stretches beyond time and space, and trusting that He will do it. In other words, faith is “the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).

Luke places this statement in a meaningful context: Jesus is saying this in direct response to the apostles’ request to increase their faith (Lk 17:5).

Jesus answers by pointing to a mustard seed—a tiny dot that could rest on a child’s fingertip—to illustrate the power of even the smallest faith. It’s unclear whether He meant to say that the apostles’ faith was lacking. 

Nevertheless, His answer shows that the Lord they serve is so powerful, even faith this small can accomplish great things. The emphasis, then, is the One in whom our faith is placed. 

Having shown what a mustard-seed faith can do, Jesus then turns to how we deepen such faith: the reverent posture we take before the One we trust.

“And 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’? But 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’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.” (Lk 17:8-9)

From the master’s point of view, the servant serves first before attending to his own needs. The master does not thank the servant; he is simply doing what he should.

This cuts against an individualistic instinct that expects effort to be rewarded through personal gain. 

Faith deepens through our increasing reverence and surrender towards God. 

It calls for us to serve Him for who He is. We place our Master before our own needs because He humbled Himself as a sacrifice to save His lowly servants (Phil 2:8). 

Keeping this in mind, we are invited to release any sense of entitlement to blessings. Instead, we serve to repay the debt we owe to the Lord.

The promise of the mustard-seed faith reminds us that this is not a cruel Master. We are the unprofitable servants of a good Master. He enables our service with His miraculous power. He opens pathways in our lives when all seems lost. With a living faith in our good God, He grants us even the impossible. 

Reflection Questions

1. When I ask God to “increase my faith,” what am I really hoping will change—my circumstances, or my attitude toward Him?

2. Which of these statements reflect my attitude in service? 

   1. God is my Master whom I serve before my own needs.

   2. When I serve God, I sometimes expect material reward and blessing from Him.

   3. When I serve God, I believe that He is a good Master who will empower me.

   4. When I serve God, sometimes I doubt that He will help me, and I feel resentful that He has purposely made things difficult for me.