“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (Luke 17:5 ESV).
The Twelve shared a desire we all yearn for—an increased faith. Their request was to add to the faith they already had—as if faith was a distinct, finite element that could be enlarged with an instantaneous infusion. It was a desired infusion; like adding more syrup to your already drenched pancakes, or that five-pound weight to your twenty-five-pound dumbbell workout.
Jesus responded that faith the ‘size’ of a mustard seed could uproot trees and replant them into the ocean. So, if the apostolic desire was to have increased faith, it would seem they were asking for a seed with more girth. Or, that the usual 1-2 millimeters (0.039 to 0.079 inches)—a seed’s diameter—would be broadened to, say, 0.050 to 0.01.
Certainly, Jesus has the authority and power to increase the size of anything by just speaking a word. But that’s not how a living faith works.
Hence, His very puzzling reply to their desire. “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:7-10 ESV).
I think a key to understanding Jesus’ response to His followers comes from His earlier reference to a mustard seed. “It [the kingdom of God] is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” (Luke 13:19 ESV).
In the context of the mustard seed, what increases it, what makes it “bigger,” is not a spoken act. It’s the “act” of time.
Thus, Jesus’ response to the disciples’ desire of increased faith was not to speak increase in an instantaneous action. Rather, increased faith was found in the ‘act’ of time (and experience) as seen in His response, “Say…we have only done what was our duty.”
Plainly stated, that mustard seed faith we exercise in our salvation is what drives us as faithful servants to the Highest.
It is our experiences and choices through our Christian journey of servanthood that will bring the increase to our faith as we exercise that faith. It was faith that started the journey and it is faith that keeps us on the journey. Thus, it will be “increased” faith that experiences the miraculous along the way.
