Who Are You Serving?

story by: lisa petrarca

Our Husky, Allie, howls at us every night at a certain time, letting us know she's ready for her walk. Last night as we did the nightly duties she demands, I walked passed a large, black, rectangular leather fold with two silver snaps on it. It was right on a corner next to a house, so I figured it must be one of the kids who lived there's toy wallet (it was larger than a real wallet.)

My husband, Anthony, decided to go back and check it out. Upon opening it, he found, money, a mans license and several credit cards. We looked for an address on the license and realized that it was a house at the very end of the cul de sac.

We knocked on the door and a small, blond haired boy, about three years old opened it and out rushed a pit bull and a boxer, charging me and Allie. I tried to pull her away as the dogs continued to pursue us. Anthony shouted, "Get Allie out of here!"

He waited at the door for an adult to come. A woman quickly appeared as he told her, "I found this wallet down the street and wanted to return it."

"Where did you find it," she replied.

"On the corner at the end of the street," he said.

"Oh thanks," she nonchalantly responded. Then she began yelling for her dogs to get back in the house.

We turned the corner and headed home without much conversation about the whole incident. I couldn't help but feel that she didn't show very much gratitude, just an, "Oh thanks." I mean, she acted like it was everyday that someone finds a wallet with money and returns it.

Then I stopped and thought, "Who am I serving? Why was it so important to me that she made a big deal about us returning the wallet?" I was looking to a person to make me feel special and important. I wanted her to realize and acknowledge what honest people we are. I expected her response to be something like, "Oh my gosh, thank you so much! We were so worried and looking everywhere. We would've had to cancel all our cards, close our bank account, get a new license, not to mention the money that would've been lost!" Or something to that effect. That's what I was secretly hoping for, so we could head home feeling so proud of ourselves.

I realized I needed to check my motives, "Who am I serving, man or God? Whose approval am I looking for?" When I accepted Christ into my heart, I chose to live a life that reflected His selfless, (not) self serving, love. I chose to seek His approval, not mans. Yes, it's nice to receive approval from people. But if that's what we are looking for each day, it will come in direct conflict with your desire to seek the Lord's approval first and foremost. Living a life for Christ is completely opposite of what the world thinks is cool.

Sometimes it takes moments like this to check your heart and remember whose approval matters most in every situation!

Jesus said, "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?"
John 5:44

"While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:18

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
2 Corinthians 3:18