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40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Matt 25:40
Have you or someone you overheard ever complained about the service you are getting at a restaurant or retail store? The perceived plummeting of quality service became a trending topic, particularly in the immediate post-pandemic stage. People serving the public seemed ill-equipped and overwhelmed. Or they appeared to lack an attitude of caring or listening. I can genuinely see both sides. Who wants to listen to people complain all day?
On the other hand, who wants to spend their money in a place that treats customers poorly? We can take a broader view now that we are a few years out and see that this is all part of the shifting ideas and expectations of a worker's movement that has pushed for higher wages and creative thinking on the part of employers. It will be interesting to see what comes out of these next years. Will people return to a place of work? Will quality service return to its status as a badge of honor, and can the worker's relationship with those they serve be one of mutual respect?
As I thought about all these things, I wondered what we would hear if we could interview God and hear the divine approval rating of our service. The purpose of this interview would not be to incite guilt or promote judgment but to encourage a pause. A deep breath to take in as we explore Matthew 25.
I will be honest; this is a challenging text. It’s not easy because there is a cost involved. It is a text that calls us to be sacrificial in our service. It’s not easy because it requires us to live and do our faith, and it’s not easy because there are no loopholes. There is no getting around what is expected of those who serve and follow Jesus Christ for life. So why would we do it? Because we are all “the least of these” and by serving one another we experience love in action. And when we experience love in action, we experience God. And that is the center of all things.
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