Jesus Came to Serve and So Does the Waitstaff
May 21 is National Waitstaff Day, a day created to inspire people to show appreciation to servers, and it’s a great time to remember that Jesus came to serve. The type of service you get at a restaurant can make or break your experience even more than the taste of the food. Waitstaff really are special people, and the number one reason is that they do what Jesus came on earth to do—serve others. Christians can make a difference in the world by serving and appreciating those who serve.
Jesus, God Incarnate, Didn’t come to be Served
The number one way Christians can impact the world is by allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus. This would mean taking actions comparable to what waiters and waitresses do at restaurants. It says the following in Matthew 20:28:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – New Living Translation
True Christlikeness can’t be separated from having the heart of a servant, and this is just one of many reasons to appreciate the qualities it takes to be a restaurant server.
Waiting Tables is Stressful
People who have never worked at a restaurant typically have no idea how stressful it is to be part of the waitstaff. Scientific research shows that being a waiter or waitressing is the number one most stressful job. This means servers are under more on-the-job stress than lawyers, doctors, and other high-stakes professionals. The following are among the reasons to appreciate servers more than ever because of the stress they are under:
- The median annual salary for a waiter or waitress is about $25,300, according to 2017 statistics. This is similar to the amount earned by nail technicians. In the food service business, tips are extremely important because waitstaff are paid according to reduced federal minimum wage standards. Instead of being bonus money, tips are meant to bring pay up to at least minimum wage.
- It’s very physically challenging to be a waiter or waitress. In addition to being on your feet constantly and carrying heavy trays, the stress affects the body. Accidents are possible because of potential cuts, burns, and slips on slippery floors. Physical health is also affected by lack of access to adequate medical attention due to finances and activities associated with high-stress jobs, including drinking alcohol and smoking.
- People being waited on can be incredibly rude. It’s normal for waitstaff to be treated in ways that are shockingly bad and degrading. Yet, they are expected to smile and demonstrate a good attitude.
- Waiters and waitresses are routinely screamed and yelled at for things that are completely beyond their control. If the kitchen is backed up, how is that the fault of the waitress? It’s very tense to be in that situation day after day.
Treat Waitstaff Like Jesus
The only perfect conclusion to draw is that because waitresses and waiters serve and our Savior came to serve, we should treat waitstaff with the respect we would give to Jesus if He took our order. If we all did that, and not just on National Waitstaff Day, a revival might break out! After all, it could lead servers everywhere and other patrons in restaurants to be drawn to Christianity.
