Gratuity or Grace?

by Pastor Eric

Gratuity is defined as: something given voluntarily or beyond obligation, usually for some kind of service. We all know the word – we give gratuities to cab drivers, restaurant servers, valets, baggage handlers, hair stylists, and on and on. In a restaurant, a tip is usually given to a server, tacked on to the cost of the meal, as a “bonus” for their work. In most cases, the amount of gratuity is based on the server’s performance. 

The other evening, Melanie and I had a chance to go out and have a nice dinner together. When we arrived at the restaurant, it was not very busy so we were seated quickly. We got settled and after 10 minutes of waiting, I got up and asked someone if we could be served. After another few minutes of sitting at our table a server finally showed up. We ordered our drinks and then placed our order for food. It was another long wait for our drinks to be delivered – by a different person. The experience only got more frustrating as our order was not correctly prepared, we did not receive what we had ordered, and the attitude of the server was not a pleasant one. It was well over an hour before we received all the proper items and could finish our meal. We had only interacted with our server twice, once to take our order and now, as she dropped off the bill. As many of you know from eating out, the bill has a place for the gratuity, which is paid to the server. There was a suggested tip of 10%, 20%, and even 25%. 

If you have ever had an experience such as this one, which I am sure you have at some point, you can understand how hard it is to figure a suitable (if any!) amount for gratuity. If this is a “bonus” for the server and is based on their performance, my inclination would be to not leave one at all. Our experience was terrible, with little or no contact with the server, and our food orders were completely wrong. Why in the world would I leave this server any sort of gratuity?  

Then I got to thinking…… How much of God’s grace would I receive if he based it solely on my performance, my obedience, my good deeds? What if my grace was dependent on God’s satisfaction of his experience with me and my “service” to him? Brothers and sisters, I don’t want to even think about that! As a sinner who falls short of God’s glory every single day in so many ways, I would never want to place my eternal fate, my spiritual life, on how well I could perform for a holy and righteous God. I would leave God with a bad experience–frustrated, waiting, and disappointed. My service would be lacking, and my contact time spent with him prayer and his Word would come up short. If left up to me, my inability to perform would leave me separated from God and lost forever! 

But we give thanks to God that this is not the case. God’s grace is a gift to everyone and anyone who believes in him. This grace is due to the work of Jesus–not my own. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” Isa. 53:3. My salvation is assured not because of what I can do but rather, what Jesus Christ has already done for me. God’s deliverance is not a “gratuity” but pure and holy GRACE that meets us where we are as sinners, for his glory and out of his deep deep love for his children. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9. 

Have you experienced God’s precious gift of grace? Remember, believe, and share the good news of what God has done that no man could ever do! 

“But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4-5.

Recent Updates