"It's my pleasure to serve you."

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Chick fil A is the Cadillac of fast food restaurants. Their food is exceptional, and  their dining rooms are clean and bright. But what truly sets them apart is the crew of smiling, respectful, hard-working people who wear their garnet and black uniform. 

They provide better service than many sit-down restaurants, often coming out from behind the counter to greet customers, clear trays and refresh drinks. And whether you order at the drive-through window or in the dining room, each employee responds in the same way, “It’s my pleasure to serve you.” 

There’s a lesson buried not too deeply under this pleasant statement. It is one we would do well to espouse. You see, Chick fil A employees understand something Christians often miss—the privilege of service. Their managers regularly remind employees that if it wasn’t for the customer, they wouldn’t be there. This reminder helps each worker remember that the work they do is a privilege, not a curse. 

 I wonder how often we take the cursed approach regarding the lives we live for the Lord? 

If we encounter hardship, we whine about how God mustn’t love us or it wouldn’t be so hard. When we're unappreciated or underappreciated, we consider quitting. When we experience conflict (often within our own families), because of our stands for truth, morality, and biblical standards, we‘re surprised and hurt. When we experience fear, health concerns, or financial struggles, we panic and act as if God has never cared for us, and we have no basis for faith. 

We are spiritual wimps and whiners. 

When we realize the audacity of our complaint, the only appropriate response is to bow our heads in shame. Our weak-kneed, fair-weather faith that whimpers when the slightest wind of tribulation blows is the equivalent of saying to God, “You are not serving me well. I’d like to file a complaint.” 

How quickly we forget that He is the Master, and we are the servants. And he is the master “who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). We have no basis on which to question his love or complain about the path he has granted us. 

Anthony Evans shared the story of a man who sat down to a meager meal of bread and water. As he folded his hands and lifted his eyes heavenward, he said, “Oh God, you have given me bread, and water, and Jesus, too? Thank you.” 

When we take our eyes off ourselves and place them squarely on Christ, in whatever life situation or circumstance we find ourselves, we can say to the Lord, “It’s my pleasure to serve you.”

If you liked this post, you might enjoy the post Eating Burned Cookies.



 

 

This devotion is an excerpt from Lori’s new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women.

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• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

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