Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on Earthly things.  Philippians 3:19

Part of the reason Paul wrote to the church at Philippians was to commend them for how generous they were.  They shared and they suffered right along with Paul.  Paul truly felt like the Philippian church was in this whole “following Christ” thing with him.  In chapter 3, Paul tells them that he is treating Christianity like a race that he is trying to win. He encourages them to do the same.

Paul goes on to tell them that there is a group of people making Christianity look terrible.  These people honestly thought that they were better than others because they had a simple surgery performed on their private parts when they were eight days old.  They preached to new converts that they had to have the same surgery in order to be saved.  It is these people that Paul is referencing in the above verse that I have used for today.  People who above all else, wanted to be in control . . . the very thing we give up when we give our lives to Christ.  In most (not all) American churches, the people who give the most money have the most control.  In many of those cases, their goal in giving money is control.  I kind of wish I didn’t know this.

Today, we have a lot of people who claim to be Christians making Christ look super unappealing.  I’ve gotten in a decent bit of trouble before because I complained about “church people.”  Of course, I know that not all church people are bad, but here is what I do know for sure:  At this moment right now, to the overwhelming majority of food workers who work on Sunday, church people look bad.  Waiters and waitresses simply hate working when the church crowd rolls in.  In a nutshell, church people are entitled, and they are cheap.  Gives a bit of credit to “their god is their stomach,” and “their mind is set on Earthly things,” doesn’t it?

I’m not saying that I can’t forget as easily as the next Christian, but Christ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to any of us.  Don’t we want others to know how appreciative we are for what He has done for us?  Don’t we want to be as generous to others as He has been to us?  Shouldn’t Sunday workers be absolutely amazed at how much more pleasant and more generous the church crowd is than any other crowd?  After all, we just got finished worshipping the One who changed our hearts, changed our minds, and changed our lives!

One time I was with two of my pastor friends.  We ran up probably a $50 tab.  The waitress was not very good.  She was totally preoccupied and distracted . . . we could tell something was wrong.  We talked about how sometimes we didn’t give God good service and how well He tips us anyway.  We threw in $20 a piece and left her $60.  She ran out to catch us, apologized to us, and told us all that was going on in her life.  We told her why we did what we did, and all prayed for her right there in the parking lot.  I will never forget that, and I doubt she will either. 

Starting Sunday, can we just start being generous when we go out to eat after church?  Can we at least start showing love, being patient, being kind, and all the other fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5?  Leave a big tip along with a note that says something like, “I appreciate you coming in to work for us today,” or “God has been good to me, I want to be good to you.” 

I don’t know what you need to write, but thing of something . . . we have a lot of ground to make up. 

Lord, where would we be if you hadn’t been generous?  You gave Your life for us, but we won’t do the same for others.  You give so freely, yet we withhold so stingily.  You show kindness while we show entitlement.  Help us to be like You.  If You went into a restaurant today, the workers would be glad you went to their place.  Help us to fix this, Lord . . . starting Sunday.  Amen.