It was to be a quick, uneventful trip to the local dollar store. The one purchase would be less than a few dollars. She was prepared to pay, eager to rid her wallet of loose change.
“$2.50,” the clerk chirped.
She quickly counted out ten quarters and dropped them into the waiting open palm.
The cashier huffed, sighed and rolled his eyes in one movement, laying the money on the counter.
“Seriously?!” he muttered under his breath, not caring that the customer heard and saw it all. He scanned the coins, counting without diligence. As the shopper left with her purchase, there were many questions swirling in her head.
Why was he working there if it bothered him so?
Did he not care about how he was misrepresenting his employer?
Is this how he lives every day, frustrated at the inconvenience of his own life choices?
Colossians 3:23 reminds us to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
When people come to us with their needs, how do we treat them? Does our treatment differ when their need may be inconvenient to us or may require us to exert more energy to help?
Have we positioned ourselves to serve if our hearts are not fully committed to the task?
It’s one thing to have a job and be willing to do it well. To give our best to whatever is in our path. Maybe we’re eyeing an incentive or are trying to impress a boss.
For Christians, our work, our service should be executed to a higher standard. Paid or unpaid, there is no task too small or finite for one of God’s followers to do.
When He lived here, Jesus helped everyone, interacting willingly and lovingly with all people. I’m sure He didn’t drag the towel on the floor that night in the upper room, reluctantly reciting from His divine script that He was there to wash the disciples’ feet because God told Him so. I can’t picture Jesus wiping off the dirty water with a shudder.
Jesus took great pleasure in serving us because He used every interaction as His chance to love us. We can take great pleasure in serving each other because it’s a chance to show Christ’s love.
Our lives don’t have to be perfect. Our circumstances may not be ideal. But if we’re willing, God can use us where we are, for His good and for His glory.
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Written by Sabrina Jacques-Rowe
Communications Director,
Henderson Highway Church
