Giving Excellence of Service Gives Me Self-Respect

I’ve traveled all over the world and have learned to expect excellence. I’m not entitled to it, but I do expect it. I especially anticipate it when I go to restaurants or hotels; I always hope to see it exhibited by the staff of these establishments. I’m looking for it and when I receive it, I reward it. Whether giving a glowing review or large tip, I celebrate excellent service. I don’t know if this started because I myself was a server in several restaurants and country clubs in my youth or if I just appreciate it by nature, but excellence in service certainly makes for a more enjoy experience.

Being A Servant Gives Me Self-Respect

Recently I went to a hotel and had this principle displayed before me in the reverse. Rather than excellence of service, I witnessed lethargy in all the employees, and I wanted to know what I was seeing. Instead of getting angry, I took pity on these individuals. My grief was that by putting forth lackluster service, these workers were robbing themselves. It is soulless to do work for a mere paycheck and quickly exit. Our spirits don’t thrive in that environment.

I wanted to know what the Lord wanted to show me in this. I was witnessing something but I wanted to know from Him what it was. And I think I heard Him say that being a servant is the highest human position. You would think that being served would be better for the ego, but alas no. We were created to serve and this is where we find our greatness.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be content to be last and become a servant to all.”
Mark 9:35 TPT

Following Jesus into Excellence of Service

Jesus made it so that we would follow Him into greatness. And how He expressed greatness was to become servant of all. Christ showed us the way to greatness and it was not it being served but in serving. It gives us great dignity to serve in excellence. And the reverse is also true; our self-esteem is vanquished when we give just enough to get by.

As I witnessed the employees at this hotel, what I saw was people who cared little about themselves. It wasn’t really about me. Their service was a reflection of their own hearts towards themselves. They gave worthless service because they saw themselves in that light. Excellence gives us self-respect, while inferior service sows self-loathing.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen lord it over them and that their great ones have absolute power? But it must not be so among you. No, whoever among you wants to be great must become the servant of you all, and if he wants to be first among you he must be your slave—just as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set many others free.”
Matthew 20:26-28 Phillips