Are You Lovin’ It?
A PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE BY PASTOR JUSTIN THOMSON
I’ve never been as interested in working for McDonalds as I have been recently. Not because of a long-suppressed desire to wear a polo shirt and headset, and not because I want out of the job I’ve already got, but because operating the griddle at Mickey D’s is more lucrative than ever. And I’m qualified.
In order to get my last job I first had to invest two years of my life and several thousand dollars to secure an associates degree. It required a professional resume, character references, and a full background check. I even wore a suit to the interview. After all of that, I felt pretty lucky to get the position. It was the highest paying gig I’d ever landed, even though it offered me no health, no dental, and no paid time off. Yet even after seven years of faithful service, it still paid less than McDonald’s is offering me right now as a walk-in. It felt like a fair-shake at the time, until I drove past the Golden Arches yesterday and saw that sign in the window.
“We’re surrounded by piles of unmade money, unpicked fruit, and unsaved souls, all for a shortage of laborers.”
And it’s not just McDonald’s either. Gas stations, factories, and businesses all over town are doing the same thing. Not because they have gobs of money to spend on their staff, but because they can’t even find people to pay. I still remember the olden days when education & experience were mandatory for any position that offered more than fifteen bucks an hour. Now, the top two requirements are your physical presence and a pulse.
HAVING IT YOUR WAY…
Have we suddenly become a people that won’t serve without a bribe? That might explain why hiring incentives have doubled since last year, and why companies have to ‘bait’ people into employment. The industries that offer the biggest kickbacks right now, are driving-related occupations and personal/home health care. Cash bonuses on those fronts range from $100 to $30,000. Other places are offering bonuses of $100 to $2,500…just to prepare food!
Some would blame this trend on the pandemic. Others might point their finger at a covert political agenda. But what if the real problem was nothing more than personal irresponsibility? Selfishness and sloth weren’t born yesterday, but they certainly seem to be growing stronger with every passing generation. When offered a choice to serve or to be served, many nowadays are choosing the latter. The last 18 months have really exposed some underlying health conditions in our country.
This crisis, however, isn’t unique to America. The church faces a similar predicament, and it’s nothing recent either. Jesus once said, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few”. There’s always been more work to be done than there are personnel willing or able to do it. We’re surrounded by piles of unmade money, unpicked fruit, and unsaved souls, all for a shortage of laborers. Maybe we’re all waiting for bigger incentives.
YOU DON’T DESERVE A BREAK TODAY…
What would you do if there were no incentives? What if serving Jesus garnered you nothing at all? No praise, no promotion, no actual wage. How much does it take to convince you that the giving of your time is worth the time you give? Be careful of withholding or discontinuing your service just because it doesn’t seem ‘worth it’ anymore. If you require a fifteen dollar bribe just to serve Jesus, you’re already halfway to betrayal without even realizing it!
The truth is, any opportunity to work for the Lord should be appreciated, no matter how unprofitable it may seem. Lots of people refuse to serve when the immediate return is overshadowed by the investment. Christians, however, have the promise that there is no loss in serving God: “Don’t get tired of doing what’s good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).
WE’RE LOVIN’ IT…
It’s never been easier to be counter-cultural than it is right now. All it takes is a little work & service. A little giving of your time and energy to help out where help is needed. A readiness to work yourself to exhaustion for no greater incentive than the pleasure of knowing that God is pleased. Christians are called to shine in this world, and one of the ways it’s done, is through our work. “So, my dear brothers and sisters, always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (I Corinthians 15:58).
While Kwik Trip struggles to find someone who’ll get out of bed and run their cash register for $30,000 a year, the servants of Christ are gladly giving up their evenings & weekends for free. Because we love our Employer.
We aren’t in it for the money, but for joy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pastor Justin is the lead teaching pastor at Believers church in West Duluth. Believers church is a non-denominational church intent on reaching the lost and helping those who have found new life in Jesus to discover and fulfill the reason that God created them. We are a church that emphasizes Bible teaching and discipleship. Our services center around verse by verse teaching of the Bible. If you’d like to know more please join us for a service either in person or via our live stream. More information including a collection of past sermons can be found at jfbduluth.com.