Astonishing Customer Service
"You are not far from the Kingdom
of God" (Mark 12:34)
A company in Southern California,
named Eide Industries, Inc. has an interesting concept, called "Astonishing
Customer Service". They define "Astonishing"
as "something so surprisingly impressive as
to stun or overwhelm the customer." The idea is not only to
treat customers well, but also superiors, subordinates, co-workers -
everyone in the work environment is treated like a favored, paying
customer.
That raises an interesting question:
How would you treat people differently, if they paid you for being nice
to them? What if you met somebody new, smiled at them, shook their
hand, hung their coat up for them, etc., and they PAID you in cash for
how nice you had been? "Good job", they would say, and then gave you
money; lots of money. How would you act differently toward them?
It's interesting that money actually
has no value at all. Paper money might make usable kindling for a fire,
but if the economy went bad, money would become useless. I remember
seeing "newsreels" from just before the time of World War II, when the
money of Germany became essentially worthless. There are actual
pictures of people using wheelbarrows full of money to pay for something
like a loaf of bread.
That would make a difference because
money is only important to us in relation to its WORTH. If it has no
worth, nobody wants it. You'd look for something else like the currency
of some other nation that's NOT in distress. That's the trouble with
money - it has no LASTING value.
Responding to others DOES have
value. LISTENING is important, and so is ANSWERING appropriately, not
only to other people, but also to God. All this has important
ramifications to YOU. If you live for yourself, you're in a trap now,
and must escape, or the trap will last forever! Let yourself be RESCUED
by our Lord. Real life is about the Lord's purposes for you and in
relation to the needs of other people.
Here’s a personal example of NOT
being responsive: I received a wonderful email from my Uncle Neil in
Connecticut. We met in person only once, but relatives say he and I
look alike. And everything I've heard has always been positive about
him - he's a nice guy.
As of this writing, I had not
answered his email. You know what happens: "I'm so BUSY!" which is the
way of many of us, too many times. A voice inside me has been urging,
"It's important to answer Uncle Neil", but I didn’t respond.
(I digress - somewhat). We have
friends, Don and Diane, who have added much love to our lives. Don
Zavolta ("Don Z" as he is called) has taken us in surprising
directions. For instance, last week, Genevieve and I attended our
second "Sons of Italy" Dinner-Dance. I asked Don, "How many of these do
I have to attend before I become an Italian?" He shrugged, smiled, and
encouraged us to keep attending. We met many WONDERFUL people there.
Actually, as a person of largely
English descent, I may be Italian, anyway. Before the birth of Jesus
Christ, the Romans (Italians) led by Julius Caesar, entered Britain, and
later the Legions of Claudius conquered that place up to the line that
is called Hadrian's Wall. Roman soldiers were there for a considerable
time and it must be assumed that many in England, who think they are
English, really are Italian.
Since I am, or am becoming, an
Italian, I look at things differently. Instead of thinking, "It’s
important that I communicate with my Uncle Neil", it is now, "Ronnie,
you WRITA' you Uncle Neil". Somehow, I am more MOTIVATED by that
terminology, and I KNOW the email must soon be sent.
Responsiveness is a form of love,
and to love others is the very essence
of life itself. One of the Scribes of Israel responded this way to
Jesus about our greatest need: "To love Him
(God)
with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your
strength, and to love your neighbor as oneself, is more than all burnt
offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:33). Jesus commended the man,
telling him, "You are not far from the Kingdom
of God" (Mark 12:34). Loving God and loving others is more
important than anything else you might think of or do, including the
religious acts you may perform.
How "Astonishing"
is the "Customer Service" you are
providing in the Name of our Lord? To have FAITH in our Lord is
essential, and yet, our "faith" must be based in love (Galatians 5:6).
The great example in all history of "Astonishing
Customer Service" is, of course, Jesus Christ Himself.
He was "in
the form of God (but)
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross"
(Philippians 2:5). The preface to this section is interesting: "Let
this mind be in YOU which was also in Christ Jesus.”
This does not mean we live drab,
wretched lives, full of misery. Consider the outcome of the Lord Jesus:
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him"
(Philippians 2:9). There is a PURPOSE, a good outcome, and if you will,
a "happy ending" in all suffering that might befall you. He died for you
and me, and we are to be like Him - willing to live for our Lord.
Let's delight in our Lord and LIVE
for HIM. It's time to "Astonish"
others. With such an attitude, you will find "You
are not far from the Kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34) and You will be
GLAD to be in His Kingdom, where He offers abundance, love, joy and
contentment.
Father, we give our hearts and lives
to You. We confess our need of You and trust in You now. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
