Have you ever had the pleasure of receiving particularly good customer service? I think it is fair to say it is not one of our nation’s strong points. I can remember looking for a new bank for our family upon graduating from Western and taking my first full time job in Kingston. Since I worked downtown, I decided to venture into a bank close to my workplace in the city centre. As I took my place in the customer line I observed the customer service team in action. They dealt with regulars with a friendly warmth, perhaps not too surprising; but they also had a more difficult client and situation to handle. I was struck by how quickly they worked as individuals in serving each client, and yet also as a team. Although generally serving clients as individuals, they had to share resources and space to do so. To receive withdrawn cash they had to wait in line themselves and as they did there was both polite deference and seemingly a genuine warmth and banter between staff. On the difficult case a co-worker without invitation chimed in “Hey, I can help with that”. Before I got to the counter to receive any sort of service directly I was sold, this was our new bank.
How does a business build that kind of efficient, friendly, team-oriented culture? For one thing employees need to trust that no one of us is as good as all of us. Secondly, it helps to be working for something bigger than the team. It is remarkable when business can accomplish this, especially a bank! Although a church is not a business, we could stand to desire to be such an example of caring teamwork. In fact, God seems to expect it. This Sunday our preaching text is Philippians 2:19-30, and we will clearly see that God has joy for us as we serve together as a team. None of us is called to stand alone. Even the immensely gifted Apostle Paul served within a team. He writes of, and strongly commends, two of his team that he wishes to send to the church at Philippi: Timothy and Epaphroditus. What marked these two servants? Paul tells us that Timothy “will be genuinely concerned for your welfare” contrasting him with those that “seek their own interests” rather than the interests of Jesus Christ. Of Epaphroditus he writes of his commitment and sacrifice: “he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” Even whilst he was ill, he was concerned for, and longed to see the Philippian church. One distinct and tremendous advantage is that we are serving together for a cause of eternal significance. Timothy served with Paul “in the gospel” (verse 22). There is no greater cause than the cause of Christ. There is no greater unifying force than the person of Christ. There is no greater message than the gospel of Christ. Lets aim higher as we look to labour together for the interests of Christ and the flourishing of our community.
Much love,
Pastor Gary
