Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego - I'd Like To Order An Attitude To Go, Please


Daniel 1:18-20 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.


Customer Service has certainly gone down in America. It is more likely to expect no customer service than good customer service. The fast-food drive thru is always a good example. They get upset if you don't order fast enough - they get upset if you order too fast. The get upset if you order something special - they get upset if you order too much. They get upset if you use a credit card - they get upset if you give exact change. It almost feels as if you can't win. My theory has always been this - if you can't do the job the way it should be done - then get another job.

The boys were now working for the king. They would go before him and report and be questioned by the king. This was not a job they applied for. They did not complete a resume and wait by the phone for human resources to call. They were forced to do this job and yet they did it so well, the king said he found them 10 times better than those already working for him.

Many times we are stuck in situations we don't want to be in. Whether it's a grueling job with little pay or a house that has a never ending list of repairs. But this example is set very clear for us. As representatives of the King - we are to do everything with Christ in mind. If we have a toilet to scrub, or a diaper to change, or a burger to flip - we should do it to the best of our ability and with a Christ-like attitude.

I can't imagine a worse situation than being forced from your homeland and stuck in a place with people who don't believe the same as you and want you to prove yourself. But Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel took this as an opportunity to be an example for God. To show His power and glory simply by doing what was asked of them to the best of their ability.

4 comments:

debrah said...

Great Post Dorothy.
Years ago I took cabs everywhere(I don't drive). One day a female cab driver arrived in the cleanest shiniest cab I have ever seen. I remarked about this and she responded:
I spend a great deal of time in this cab-of course I want it to be clean and safe.
If I want to spend time in a clean cab then so do my customers.
What would it say about me if I drove around in a dirty cab that doesn't run well?
This cab therefore is a reflection of me.
Months ago the Lord spoke to my heart that I am His workmanship -what is the way I live my life saying about Him?
Have a Blessed week.

Kelly said...

Have you been to the fast food restuarant in my neighborhood? LOL! That's it! You described it.

People have a sense of entitlement now days.

May we all have a Christ-like attitude in everything we do...yes, even the laundry! (that's me!)

Greg C said...

If more people had a Christ-like attitude wouldn't the world be wonderful. So many people get that attitude and bring everyone else down. At my last job, the people that worked for me were always complaining about their job. When I caught them doing that, I would tell them I had good news. "I am accepting resignations today, no questions asked". That usually made them quiet down. I have a great Attitude most of the time and people notice and comment on it.

Kay Martin said...

I recently changed cell phone companies. The former company is huge and one of the reasons I no longer wanted to work with them was poor customer service. I switched to a company that I discoverd over the web and their fees and no contract won me. But...their customer service is blowing me away. They are so nice and helpful; I keep thanking them all the time because of the former company's rudeness.

You're right the Jewish boys were in such a hard place. I can only imagine.