Customer Service?

I have subscribed to a well-known satellite TV provider the last seven years. And although I was satisfied with their service, I could not get the HD programming I wanted at a reasonable price. So I dished the dish and went with digital cable.

The technician came to my house on Tuesday. He was polite and courteous, and he seemed to know his job. Before he left he said, “The receivers are downloading programming, and you will have a signal in the next 15 minutes.” But hours later there was still no service.

I spent Tuesday evening on the phone with customer service. I called again Wednesday morning. I spent a chunk of Wednesday afternoon with the trained professionals I was beginning to know by name. After a brief dinner break, I resumed my growing phone relationship with my customer service friends. But I still could not get service.

I was not getting service from customer service.

Several times during the course of these calls, the representatives would put me on hold to access information or speak to a supervisor. While on hold, I was treated each time to an effusive ad campaign detailing their superior customer service. The irony was unavoidable. Customer service was a slogan, a slick ad campaign, a cleverly devised spin. But it was not a reality.

I have served in vocational ministry for 27 years, and I wonder how much of the time – like my cable provider – service was my slogan, but not my life.

I must continually remind myself that God called me to serve others; it is my job description.

“Serve the flock God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly — not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” (I Peter 5:2)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23, 24)

“When a servant comes in from plowing, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey Me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have simply done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)