“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)
By Carol Lopez
When I was getting my teaching credential at UCLA, I needed a part-time job, and I found one as a server at Marie Callendar’s pie shop. The boss needed a person to close at night, so he hired me on the spot. It was a charming little place that offered a wide variety of fresh baked pies daily.
I had no actual training for this position, but I learned the job responsibilities very quickly. However, what came next was a plan guided by the Holy Spirit that revealed to me and my coworkers that we were much more than pie servers!
According to my boss, “The majority of the staff was inexperienced and somewhat self-centered.” Linda and I were “older and more mature about our job responsibilities.” He asked us to meet with the employees during their lunchtime and give them suggestions on how to talk with customers and work more efficiently. We agreed and together we launched our unofficial customer service training program complete with goals, objectives, and practical applications.
Over time, our coworkers began to share their concerns, ideas, and suggestions as they listened to the insights that were being discussed. Collectively, we developed customer service best practices and built a united team. It was remarkable to see how God was working in our lives to build trusting relationships and the ability to function as responsible stewards of God’s resources.
Our boss was very surprised and pleased at how attitudes changed, and work performance improved. God had orchestrated the conditions for each employee to use their individual gifts as part of the whole pie, so to speak, and serve as stewards of creation for the common good of all.
Pray
Loving God, you call us to be stewards of your abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Help us to always use your gifts wisely.
Reflect
Stewardship invites us to shift our mindset from “what is mine?” to “what can I do with what I have been given?” Reflect on how you can reframe your life in this way.
Discuss
In what ways can a renewed understanding of stewardship enrich our spiritual lives and connect us more deeply to our faith?
Carol Lopez is a retired educator, member of the Fresno WorkLight Women’s Chapter and Service Council, and a member of WorkLight’s Editorial Team. She also volunteers as a Stephen Minister at her church.