I can remember the shock and disappointment I felt many years ago when I saw that bottle of beer in my Christian friend’s refrigerator one night. What a bad example he was setting! I had been so sure that he was a deeply spiritual man like myself. After all, I didn’t smoke, drink, cuss, chew or even associate with those who do! I could go to restaurants and pick out the saints and the sinners. The saints were the ones who prayed before their meal. The sinners were the ones who had alcoholic drinks on the table.
As I look back on that era of my life, I’m amazed at the patient love of Jesus for me. He saw those pharisaical tendencies of mine and yet He saw through them all the way to the core of my heart where there was a man who could be pliable in the Potter’s hand and be conformed into the image of Christ.
In my mind today I picture Jesus standing over in the corner of the restaurant watching the people, but He’s not observing what I was looking at. He’s not really too concerned with who’s praying before the meal or the bottle of beer on the table. He’s concerned about the measly two dollar tip left for the struggling waitress by the man who piously prayed before his twenty dollar dinner. He looks with pleasure at another table where a young man drinking a cocktail and dining with his friends grabs the check and pays for their meal, all the while leaving a generous 30% tip for the waiter.
I have heard from many who work or have previously worked in the restaurant business that Sundays were the most dreaded days for wait staff to work. Why? Because Sundays are the days when the church crowd fills up the place. So why would they dread this day so much? Because alcohol sales will be down? No. Tips will be down. Way down. A friend who was once a waiter told me of a man who left what looked like a one-hundred-dollar bill on the table. Imagine his excitement when he saw it only to grab it, open it up, and discover it was one of those gospel tracts that looks like a hundred-dollar-bill. Seriously?
It is not the purpose of this blog to bash the church. After all, I am part of the church. I too was once one of those who calculated the 15% tip in my head to make sure I didn’t leave a penny more than was required.
I’m reminded of the words of Jesus to His disciples,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
As I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:34-35)
What does love look like? It looks like giving.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
The real gospel would have been proclaimed had that man rolled up a real hundred-dollar-bill inside the tract. There’s something about lavish generosity that preaches the gospel.
The love of Jesus is extremely generous. Our demonstration of the gospel is never more clearly understood than when we love generously. The next time you go to the restaurant, leave a tract on the table. You know, one of those green ones, and if you’re not going to leave a generous tip, please don’t misrepresent our generous God and tell them you’re a Christian. Thank you!
Generously,
Kevin
Joe August 25, 2016
I saw a young lady cleaning a table she was waiting on and someone had left a bible tract that looked like a $20 bill. She looked at it and put it in her pocket. I asked her what that was she put in her pocket and she told me, “it was a bible tract.” She went on to say that preachers were the worst tippers. My wife just about fell out of her chair laughing as she pointed at me and told her I was a preacher. The waitress apologized over and over and I told her not to cause it wasn’t her fault that was her experience. If your going to talk God and make loud prayers at lunch, you’d best be leaving a generous tip. Great article Kevin.
Kevin Sherman August 25, 2016
Thanks Joe!
Don August 25, 2016
When you go out to eat with a pal – Do like my friend and when you pay your $21 tab with s twenties . . . Your pal says to the waiter, “Keep the change” . . . Doh!
On a serious note-
A different friend and I occasionally go get lunch and intentionally “POUND” a waiter by leaving a huge tip.
We have said that 2 together can do what only one of us cannot. Really has a profound effect of a waiter!
Great article Kevin. I hope the right people read it. U know the ones I am talking about August 26, 2016
Gr