Good Customer Service

Romans 14:7-12 (KJV) For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Whatever Happened To Good Customer Service?

I was having coffee with my brother Frank yesterday when I asked the question, “Whatever happened to good customer service?” It’s getting rarer and rarer today. No one wants to wait on you. When you go in a store, you are treated like an inconvenience. People want your money, but they don’t want your presence. For that matter, people want to be paid – but hate the fact they have to work.

I believe much of the problem has to do with 21^st century parenting. Children are raised without responsibilities. They are given everything, whether they work for it of not. So the child grows up believing:

“I live TO MYSELF. If it’s not about ME, then I don’t care. My entire responsibility in life is to please MYSELF. I will live my life MY WAY, like Frank Sinatra, then when I die I will die TO MYSELF. Nobody else matters but ME.”

I can tell you horror stories, and you can probably tell me the same. I went to CVS with a coupon the other day, and the cashier treated me like dirt. People refuse to say “thanks for coming” or even “thank you”. It’s just, “Give me the money, get out!” I’ve had cashiers ring up my order wrong, and when I point it out they look at me like “What an inconvenience!” On one error I pointed out the young lady said, “Well, it’s just $2.00!” Yes, but it’s MY $2.00.

Let’s talk about turn signals. People refuse to use them. Turn signals prevent accidents, increase the smooth flow of traffic, and get us all home safely. But because everyone is so “It’s all about ME” no one wants to be courteous. And we all suffer.

Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and NO MAN {oudeis} dieth to himself.

Word Study: The words translated “NO MAN” is the Greek oudeis, which doesn’t mean “NO MAN” but “NO ONE NOR ANY THING”. Children believe the world revolves around them. Some Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Communists and Libertarians believe the world revolves around them. It doesn’t. I’ve seen people on television gluing themselves to highways, or throwing paint on priceless works of art in order to “protest” the flavor of the day. These children in adult bodies believe life is all about them. They stop traffic, keeping people from working and paying taxes so these lazy creatures can be social justice idiots.

Harsh? I mean to be. God created the world to where there is NO life where there is no give and take.

For years we let people come across our border, and enter our society, but imposed no liability nor taxation on them. This increased the tax burden for every person in America. It’s not all about you. If you live in this free country, you MUST pay taxes to maintain its infrastructure. If you don’t, then someone has to. When John F. Kennedy was Inaugurated, January 20, 1961, in his speech he said in part:

“We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. … The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

In any nation when the people become self absorbed, “It’s all about ME”, I’m going to do it MY WAY, the anarchy of it will destroy that nation.

In any community where selfishness and self love prevails, lawlessness and flaming “mostly peaceful protests” will hurt everyone.

In any family where children are taught selfishness by selfish parents and grandparents, in time the children will grow into childish adults who live out their lives consuming rather than creating.

In any Church where we forget that we are to be the Light and the Salt – then in time God Himself will shut down that Church. We are called as believers not to seek our own, but to “Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) if you expect to be blessed. Israel forgot this when the Messiah came. So Jesus told Israel:

Matthew 21:43 (KJV) … The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

God will close the doors of the nation that encourages selfish fools.
God will close the doors of the business that forgets its customer’s value.
God will close the doors on greedy cities.
God will close the doors on families that ignore His Word.
God will close the doors on Churches that do not glorify Him.

God Is The Customer Of This Church

What is the business of every Christian, the business of every Church?

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

We as Christians live to please the Lord Who saved us. In that sense, God is our Customer. We are bought by the Lord. We belong to the Lord. We are members of His Kingdom. And God has expectations of us.

In the midst of all the “salvation is a free gift” preaching – and it is a “free gift” for we cannot earn nor deserve it – many “accepted Jesus” but were not told that there would be consequences of accepting the free gift. Now, let’s talk about that phrase “FREE GIFT”.

The phrase “FREE GIFT” is only found twice in the Scripture, ONLY in Romans chapter five.

Romans 5:15-16, 18 (KJV) But not as the offense, so also [is] the FREE GIFT {charisma}. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [16] And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT {charisma} [is] of many offenses unto justification. … [18] Therefore as by the offense of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.

Word Study: The words “FREE GIFT” is the Greek charisma, which means “a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own, divine gratuity and deliverance”. These words are used in verses 15-16, but not in verse 18. The King James translators added the words in verse 18 – though this is what the Apostle was talking about. Salvation is indeed a “FREE GIFT” in the sense that you cannot purchase it, you cannot earn it. You cannot work toward it. But it is a FREE GIFT WITH CONSEQUENCES.

When you receive the FREE GIFT of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, God sends the Holy Spirit to you, and as a consequence you are BORN AGAIN.

Receiving the FREE GIFT of salvation from Jesus Christ brings a change to the recipient. We are told in Romans 5:19 that “many are MADE RIGHTEOUS”. Whereas before you were selfish and self absorbed, now you live in love with God and your fellow believers. We are told in Romans 5:21 that for the believer, “GRACE REIGNS through RIGHTEOUSNESS unto ETERNAL LIFE by Jesus Christ our Lord”.

The world and the worldly LIVE FOR THEMSELVES. But for the Christian, born again of God’s Spirit:

Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Christians belong to the One Who bought them.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

“FREE GIFT” doesn’t mean you are freely given salvation so you can live for the devil. We do not live to please the world. We live to please our Savior and lord.

1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

We do not live our lives to please the lost world. We live our lives for Jesus. “whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”. Jesus did not die on the Cross and rise from the grave so we can be a selfish mess with the rest of the world. Jesus did not die on the Cross and rise again just so “I can go to Heaven”. No!

Jesus purchased a Kingdom with His Blood!

Romans 14:9 (KJV) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth. He is Lord of all. He is Lord of His Kingdom. “That He might be Lord both of the dead and living”. What does that mean? Jesus told us:

John 5:22-29 (NKJV) For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, [23] “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. [24] “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. [25] “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. [26] “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, [27] “and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. [28] “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice [29] “and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Jesus Christ is the “LORD of all”, the “LORD of the DEAD and of the LIVING”. Those who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are born again, quickened, made alive by the Spirit of God. They are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:10; Philippians 2:15). The Bible says:

Philippians 2:9-10 (NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted {Jesus} and given Him the name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, …

Jesus is the LORD of the Living, of the Born Again, of the Church. But Jesus is also the LORD of the dead, the spiritually unborn, of the world.

Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY knee shall bow to me, and EVERY tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then EVERY ONE OF US shall give account of himself to God.

Judgment Day is coming for every person, and Jesus Christ is the Judge. Some will stand before Jesus at what the Bible calls “The Great White Throne Judgment”. Those who refused His “free gift” of salvation, who refused to lay their lives down to follow Him, who refused to listen to what Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV) Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

The lost gave their soul to self, to selfishness, to chase sin and sinful pleasures. These “lost souls” will one day stand before a Great White Throne. They refused to DENY THEMSELVES, TAKE UP THE CROSS, and FOLLOW JESUS. As they stand before this Throne, Jesus will tell them “I never knew you”.

Jesus is life and light. The sum of their lives on earth are selfishness and self service. He doesn’t know who they are.

That’s what Jesus is talking about in:

Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED in Your name, CAST OUT DEMONS in Your name, and DONE MANY WONDERS in Your name?’ [23] “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

What is the “WILL OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN”? It is to believe on Jesus, to give your life to Him. It is not occasional acts of good, but committing your daily walk to Him. Those who are nominal or occasional Christians may not be saved. I beg you – examine yourselves. There is no purgatory, and the Lake of Fire is forever (Revelation 20:11-15).

Jesus Will Judge Every Christian

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

With these words, the Apostle is not giving the Christian the right to sin. There are certain activities that the Bible clearly labels as “sin”. If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will warn them against sin. What the Apostle is talking about is something you find objectionable that is not clearly marked out in Scripture as “sin”. We’ve talked about this before.

Though we as Christians are to avoid what God has clearly defined as “sin”, there are other gray areas that are open to interpretation. Here’s the standard:

If you can find a Bible text that clearly states “this is sin”, then stand with the text. But if the Bible does not address what you find objectionable, let Jesus be the judge.

Romans 14:13-15 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

In the early Church, Jewish Christians were taught that certain meats were “unclean” and should not be eaten. Gentile Christians were not raised in that culture, so ate all things. Paul said, “I am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself”. But even if its not forbidden, if I love my brother or sister in Christ and it might cause them to stumble in their growth, shouldn’t I practice self denial? My prejudices and upbringing should not cause another believer grief.

We are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25; Romans 12:5).

Give up your “sacred set” or your “parking place” to another. Deny yourself. Be encouragers, not discouragers. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and on Grace. Be charitable.

Romans 14:16-17 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We are all different, with different backgrounds. As long as the Bible does not forbid it, love your fellow believer – even if you don’t agree. I close with this:

Romans 14:20-21 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Let us love one another. In Christ’s name. Amen!