A Waiter's Conclusion

Growing up, my family was categorized as living below the poverty line. Looking back now, having been to several third-world countries, I’m not sure the term “poverty” is completely appropriate, but I do understand that, from an American’s perspective, even one meal missed due to lack of finances is too many. In that sense, I guess my mom, my brother, and my two sisters were impoverished.My mom worked multiple waitressing jobs to make ends meet. She’d come home and say things like, “It’s amazing who tips well and who doesn’t.” As a child, I’d shrug it off, not understanding exactly what she was talking about. However, the time came when I spent about three years as a waiter, myself, as I was attending college. It was hard work, but it was good money…and thanks be to God for the folks that weren’t wealthy (allow me to qualify this). I finally realized, through experience, what my mom was trying to teach me so many years ago.As a general rule of thumb, the wealthier a patron is, the less they tip their waiters. Correspondingly, the less wealthy a person is, the more they tip. If tips are an expression of gratitude, are the wealthy really consistently less satisfied with their waiters, or is it something else?Come to find out, after studying the Word of God for a time, this principle isn’t a novel one. In fact, the apostle Paul had to deal with it regularly. Case in point, the Corinthians were known to be wealthy, yet he purposely forwent taking financial support from them at times due to their issues with money (even though he rightfully should have received their support - 1 Corinthians 9:7). There were those in that community who were “rich” in finances, but “poor tippers”.Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you [sarcasm]; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need [Paul relied on other, poorer churches for support], and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.Paul understood the influence of those with money issues in Corinth. He knew the excuses people made, as do I even today, through experience. He understood, and yet he still loved. He pressed himself even further into service for the sake of the Gospel, despite the weaknesses in those he was ministering to. He reasoned that the peripheral issue of financial support was less important than the spreading of the Gospel, and that if some might stumble instead of seeking the blessing of giving, then he would bear a greater burden.On the flip side, the Macedonians, especially the Philippians, were not only willing to support Paul in his work for the Lord, but they sought out ways to do so. And interestingly, in accordance with this blog, they were not considered wealthy…at least not financially, that is.What a stark difference between those Paul was contending with in the wealthy Corinthian community and those in the poorer Macedonian community. The Macedonians actually begged to participate in the support of the Gospel. As scripture clearly states, the more generous people were actually those without a lot of money. The poorer were actually the more gracious. Reminds me of the widow’s mite:A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”Jesus, the wisest, kindest, most honest man to ever walk the face of the earth, saw what I have seen as a waiter. He also enjoyed, as I do even today, seeing those freed from their bondage to money. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). A person who serves wealth will never be a good tipper. Sadly, man has been serving the wrong master throughout human history, to his own demise. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).Paul wrote to those “good tippers” and praised them, not out of sheer gratitude for personal benefit, but for allowing God’s grace to bless them through giving. I sometimes refer to myself from the pulpit as a “waiter” because it’s a pretty good approximation of my primary duty while I’m standing there - deliver the food, the bread of life (John 6:35). Jesus said, “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD”’” (Matthew 4:4). In a sense, we’re all waiters. While we aren’t “working for tips”, we do rejoice in seeing others responding to God’s grace through giving.I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.The proper perspective, from a “waiter’s” standpoint, is that God’s economy functions on the basis of grace alone. Gracious labor and gracious giving. What a beautiful thing to see. It’s saddening when people, especially those serving wealth, are blinded by their own lust. The Bible teaches us that those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully.Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written,
“HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
Love in Christ,
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Ed Collins