Ah yes, indeed, spring has sprung. We’ve cranked our clocks forward, things are blooming, and our income taxes are nearly due, which means that people dressed in Uncle Sam and Statue of Liberty costumes can be found standing along busy roadways hoping to entice us to let their coworkers prepare our tax forms.
These Uncle Sams and Statues, these hardy human billboards, stand out there for hours on end, waving, waving, waving. You’ve surely seen them, too, so I was wondering, do you wave back?
I used to feel conflicted about it: Silly if I waved back, but guilty if I didn’t give these people a little encouragement. I mean, what else are they getting out of this job, except fresh air and a paycheck?
I’ve decided now to always wave back at the Sams and Statues and what’s more, I realize I admire them. They’re working, which isn’t to be taken for granted these days, and doing something I’m not sure I’d have the spunk or desire to do.
There have been recent political discussions about the unwillingness of many American workers to do certain jobs. The argument has been made that illegal immigrants are doing many jobs because they’re the only ones willing to do them.
That’s entirely possible. We Americans, on the whole, have been trained to be job snobs. After all, folks can sometimes make more money sitting in their recliners watching “Judge Judy” and collecting welfare than they can make going to work.
Maybe these waving Sams and Statues prove that there are at least a few Americans around who are willing to do what many of us might not want to do.
I salute them, and what’s more, I believe that we Christian “church people” could learn a few things from them.
For one thing, we could, as a whole, stand to be a little a friendlier. You know, actually wave, smile, and look as happy as we ought to be.
But beyond that, if we would all simply, humbly and enthusiastically serve however, whenever, and whoever we can, no matter how mundane the job seems, my, oh my, how powerful our example might be.
That kind of serving certainly does take place in churches. I’ve seen it often—but perhaps not often enough. We tend to give major strokes to people who sing beautiful solos or teach engaging Bible studies, but how about those who change diapers in the nursery or wash dishes after a church dinner? Hmmm, not so much.
In Matthew 25, Jesus singled out some pretty inglorious works for praise—feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, taking in strangers, clothing the naked, visiting prisoners.
I’ve never seen any awards shows on T.V. honoring people who do those things.
Jesus really shook up the Pepsi can when, on the night before His crucifixion, when He was perhaps most deserving of compassion and ministry FROM his disciples, He humbled Himself and washed their feet. The king of Kings knelt before this ragtag band of men and did a job usually assigned to the lowliest servant.
Why?
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet,” Jesus said. (John 13:14)
He went on to add, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17)
If something needs to be done, if someone needs to be encouraged, loved or served, Jesus says we should just do it. Just do it.
And if we do, He says we’ll be blessed.
I think if we do, people might see Jesus in us. And that could make all the difference.
“But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11