By Demetrius Moffett

When we look at these two places, there are similarities and differences.

Both places greet you when you arrive.

They both take your order.

But it’s how this occurs that I would like to explore.

In the case of carry out, “we” walk up to the server, the server greets us, ask would we like, place our order, we pay, receive our food, and our interaction with the server, for the most part, is done.

In the case of dining in, the server “comes” to where we are, introduces themselves, ask what may they start us with and gives us some choices. They take our drink order and return after giving time to look over the menu that is in our hand not up on a billboard. After we place our order, they’ll come by periodically to check on our status. Once our entries are ready they bring them to us, set it on the table before us. Ensures that everything is to our liking and says “if you need anything else to let them know”. As we are enjoying our meal they’ll stop by or at least make themselves available in the event we have any additional needs. After we are done, the server will bring us our check, we pay our bill leaving the mess behind for them to clean up and out the door we go.

Another difference, I would like to point out, is the servers that work carry out make at least minimum wage if not more per hour. The server that works dine in makes below the minimum and is dependent on tips to really make any money.

Both Matthew and Mark records “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus was not a carryout server. He was about ‘dining in.”

What type of servers are we? Are we waiting for people to come to us or are we going to where they are? Are we looking to make their encounter with us a comfortable experience or just a drive-thru moment? If we’re really pleased with our service, most experts will tell us to tip 20%. If the service is decent, leave 10%. What type of servers are we, carry out or dine in?

In order to make tips, we must put in the time.

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.