How would you score on the ‘Waiter Rule’? The ‘Waiter Rule’ is the way you treat a waiter in a restaurant, knowing that your paths possibly would never cross again, and you need no other help from the waiter. You might say that the way you treat a waiter would be directly proportional to how the waiter waited on you that day. Really?
What if God followed the ‘Waiter Rule’ with me? I am glad He doesn’t, as Paul reminds: God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, He united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by His wonderful grace! (Ephesians 2:4-5) God’s love, compassion, mercy, and grace are poured out on me while I was dead and doomed in my sins.
The evidence that I experience God’s love, compassion, mercy, and grace is seen in how I treat people, every one of them, each a masterpiece of God’s handiwork. Jesus commanded His followers: But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. (Luke 6:27-31)
Disrespecting, discriminating, harassing, belittling, criticizing, insulting, calling names, manipulating, threatening, intimidating, not caring, condescending, being callous, etc., are qualities of those who do not fare well in the ‘Waiter Rule’. How about you? When you feel like saying “But……”, I invite you to read Matthew 25:40, 45, 46. —
Jeba Moses
Pastor, Clifton Adventist Church