You Learn a Lot About Someone by the Way They Treat People Who Serve Them
Especially when something goes wrong.
You call the waitress over to your table because it’s the second time they’ve gotten your order wrong.
Your routine trip into the bank has turned into half an hour because the bank has messed something up on their end.
Your employee’s mistake resulted in the customer calling you and “chewing you out.”
How we treat people who work for us or serve us somehow says a lot about us. This is especially true when something goes wrong, and frustration kicks in.
How Does Jesus Treat His Servants?
Jesus referred to His apostles, not as servants - but as friends. He said this even though He already knew Peter would deny Him three times (John 13:36-38).
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:14-15)
Would you call someone your friend if you knew they were going to treat you the way Peter treated Jesus?
Having arrested [Jesus], they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."
And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62)
After Jesus rose from the dead, He was especially interested in seeing and speaking with Peter.
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." (Mark 16:6-7)
Jesus is far kinder and more merciful to His servants than they deserve.
What about us?
Knowing that Jesus has been so compassionate toward us when we did not deserve such love (Romans 5:6-9), how should we treat those who wait upon or serve us?
Shouldn’t we extend graciousness to others?
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
Even when we are teaching those in sin or correcting those who have become trapped by sin, we are to do so in a gentle, humble way.
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
If we are not kind toward others - especially when we have been wronged - we demonstrate that we know very little of the Lord.
If we are not gentle in confronting those caught up in sin, we demonstrate that we do not appreciate how the Lord has dealt with us in our sin.
What does your treatment of others say about you?