Called to Serve!

Undercover Boss is a TV show that sends the CEO or owner of a company undercover to work as an employee in his/her firm for a week. They have to do everything that is expected of a normal employee: cleaning the restrooms, taking out the trash, washing the dishes, and all the menial jobs that we take for granted will be done by some faceless employee. They face the worst and the best sides of people who work for them. The CEO comes face to face with overstressed and overstretched employees who continue to work because of their need to support their families and also out a sense of loyalty. There were others who were tyrants who used their positions to take advantage of those working under them!
After a week, the CEO is asked to reflect upon his/her experiences and very often this has resulted in a deep appreciation of the hard work that the employees put in that enables the company to grow and make the kind of money and impact that they enjoy so much and take so much for granted. In the particular episode that I watched the CEO brought in his executive team and shared his experience and how it has made him appreciate the struggles and hardships the employees face on a daily basis, it helped develop a deep respect and love for the faceless employee who is a human person. It resulted in positive changes in the work culture of the organization and practical expressions of gratitude like offering employees more time to spend with the family, a fully paid yearly vacation and a more empathetic leader who could fully understand the pressures and constraints under which his workers performed under.
What about us Christians? How do we fare? If we were to take an anonymous survey of those who serve in various Christian organizations across India many a horror story would emerge. Pathetic pay (missionaries, evangelists, Christian workers, and pastors often draw salaries that are far below what a driver, security guard or service staff get!), overwork, overstress, lack of appreciation, no savings or security leaves behind families that are deeply resentful of parents who are in the ministry. Interestingly, another survey of families in ministry will reveal that most children of those in ministry don’t follow their parents. On the other hand leaders of Christian organizations in India grow richer and richer! In a short period they amass property, wealth, secure the future of their children and grandchildren and nothing but the most basic support is provided to those who serve the Lord in their organizations.
How many CEOs and leaders of Christian organizations, missions and churches know of the struggles of those who they lead in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ? Will they be willing to leave behind the comforts of their centralized AC homes and offices and trade it for the grind and discomfort of those who serve at the grassroots? And if they do what will they learn and change in the struggles and heartaches of those serving under them? Think about it –In many cases the milk bill of a Christian leader’s home and the salary of his personal cook is more than that of the support received by a missionary on the field!
We seem to have forgotten what Christ came to do: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 45. Christian leaders are called to serve as a servant of Christ, to have the same attitude that Christ displayed. Let us learn and not forget, let us serve and not be served. For one day Christ is going to tell us,
“ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25: 40 – 46.
Let us not be found wanting!