Good Servants

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:19-23, 34-40; Romans 12:9-13

“A hamburger for me!” Lincoln announced as he set down his menu. “With French

fries!”

A smiling young man approached the table. “My name is Kyle, and I’ll be your waiter tonight. I heard one hamburger. Is everyone else ready to order too?” Kyle jotted down each order and soon brought them a tray filled with plates of steaming food.

“Why are those people called waiters?” Ashley asked as Kyle walked back to the kitchen.

“Because you wait while they bring you the food,” Lincoln answered.

Mom laughed. “Actually, to wait sometimes means to serve. That’s what waiters do. They serve the customers who come in to eat. They’re often called servers instead of waiters or waitresses.”

“I learned a Bible verse that says, ‘Wait on the Lord,’” said Ashley. “Is that like being a waiter?”

“Wait on God?” asked Lincoln. “We can’t serve meals to Him.”

“Not meals, silly!” said Ashley. “But we can serve Him in other ways.”

“Generally, to wait on the Lord means to be patient and trust Him,” Dad explained. “But I think we can apply another meaning to that verse too. Jesus tells us that when we serve other people, we’re really serving Him. We’re showing others what He’s like by making ourselves servants the way He did when He came to earth to die for our sins.” He picked up the check.

“Don’t forget the tip, Dad,” said Lincoln. “Kyle was a good waiter.”

“I agree,” said Dad. “What makes people good waiters or waitresses?”

“They need to bring you exactly what you ask for,” said Ashley. “Did you see those people a couple tables over? They weren’t very happy when their waiter brought them the wrong salads.”

“And a good server is quick,” Lincoln added. “When I asked for more ketchup, Kyle brought it right away.”

“And they also need to be kind and courteous so people will want to eat at that restaurant again,” said Mom.

Dad nodded. “Doing what others ask, responding quickly, and being kind—those are some of the ways we can serve Jesus by serving others. And one day, when we get to heaven, imagine being greeted with the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ I can’t imagine a better tip than that!”

-Robert Byers

How About You?

Are you waiting on the Lord by being patient and trusting Him? That’s something we all must do as we walk through life with Jesus, but it doesn’t mean we don’t do anything at all—we can also wait on the Lord by serving others. How can you be a good servant? By responding quickly when your parents tell you to do something? By showing kindness to someone at school? Wait on the Lord by serving others like Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 25:23 His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Serve Jesus well