Jesus to the tills please.

A guest prayer by Theresa Dickson

Throughout the many years I have been working in customer service, I’ve come into contact with all sorts of people. Some want you to do everything for them, asking for you to take them to a product, reach this or that, insisting a till is opened. Conversely, there are some customers who just want to be left alone. They refuse to ask for help, and even become a bit defensive if you offer it.

Have you ever gone into a store needing to ask for something – information, to bring something back, or just if they stock a particular item, only to be met with an attitude of disdain from the assistant? Or, at the other end of the spectrum of service, been helped by a member of staff who is clearly committed to go above and beyond?

Consider, if you will, how it feels to give, and to receive, top quality service. How would you feel if someone in need came to you for help, and you point blank refused, or begrudgingly did the least you possibly could?

As Christians, we are called to follow the example of ‘The Servant King’. Jesus fed the hungry, washed the disciples feet, healed the sick, hugged lepers, called outcasts to follow him, all with the same selfless attitude, making people feel special and respected. He suffered and died, all to show us the grace we are blessed by. Who are we that God would send his only son to pay such a sacrifice for mere mortals like us?

However it is that we are called to serve others, if we can do it with even a small amount of the love and consideration Jesus gives us, we can bring God’s example into the world.

Let us pray

Jesus, our saviour,

Lead us in daily life to serve others with the same willingness and lack of judgment that you have. Guide us to keep our eyes open in watch of needs that we can help to meet.

We come to you constantly asking for a resolution to an issue, to bring about a scenario that we want, or to take away what we don’t want, expecting you to answer our prayer immediately. Give us the clarity to see when you are offering to guide us to learn lessons that might help us to help ourselves in the future.

In preparation for when we come to ‘check out’ and we’re looking through what we’ve accrued throughout our lives on earth, Jesus, please support us to prioritise what will bring us closer to you. Help us to take stock, have we collected lots of pretty things that will go to waste in the back of the cupboard, and cost us more than we can afford? Or have we filled our trolleys with true spiritual sustenance? With acts of loving service? According to your example?

When it comes time to call ‘Jesus to the tills’, we pray that we can do so safe in the knowledge that we have done the very best job we can, in gratitude for the best service we will ever know – your life.

Amen.