Quality service

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).

With Christmas almost upon us, most people are getting caught up in an annual American tradition: shopping for the best product at the best price. Consumerism drives us; we want clean, well-lit stores that are warm, with wide aisles and a large selection of goods to choose from. We want excellent customer service, from helpful employees to no-hassle refunds if we are disappointed with our purchase.

The trouble is, many people treat God’s churches as if they were stores specializing in the selling of religion. The best churches are expected to be in excellent repair, with every modern convenience. They should offer a wide variety of products, including both traditional and contemporary worship options, multiple Bible studies on a variety of topics, an assortment of groups to join, and so on. Preferred churches will give you excellent customer satisfaction, with preachers who are always available when you call the office and who never lead a dull worship service.

But what does a consumer do if he donates to the church, yet does not feel that he’s getting his money’s worth? What if he doesn’t like the musical selections? What if he is unhappy with the sermons? What if he doesn’t like how the congregation is being run? After all, it’s not like you can get a refund.

Perhaps the problem has to do with our attitude towards service. When we go into a store, we expect to be waited on; we want to be served. But when we go to church, two kinds of service are going on. First, God serves us—He serves us by taking away our sins through Jesus’ blood, which was poured out on our behalf on the cross of Calvary. He serves us by feeding us with His teachings, which are read from the Bible and discussed through the sermon. He serves us by listening to our prayers and responding according to His perfect wisdom. But then it is our turn to serve—serve Him by showing our gratitude through our songs of praise and our offerings to support His church. We serve Him by donating our time, whether it be as an officer of the congregation or a voter, a quilter or a Sunday School teacher, a groundskeeper or janitor, a choir member or a secretary. Instead of grumbling that the church looks dingy, you could offer to apply a new coat of paint. Instead of criticizing the pastor, you should pray to God to help him improve. Instead of complaining that there is no Bible study on your favorite topic, ask the pastor if he could prepare you to lead such a study yourself. Heed the words of St. Peter, who wrote: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).