Recently there was an article printed in Small Business Benefits that dealt with customer relations. The thrust of the article was to see why customers quit patronizing various businesses. The results were interesting in that 66% of customers didn’t leave because of something the business did, but rather what the business failed to do. Customers did not feel "special". They felt that they were just another number, that their needs simply didn’t matter. They felt that the business could "take em or leave em". The article went on to give advice on how to remedy this problem. "Do customers look forward to doing business with you? Think before you answer that. We’re not talking about the "please", "thank you" and "have a nice day" pleasantries that are recited rote to every customer-so much so that they have lost their meaning. We’re talking about a genuinely sincere desire to provide the best possible service...Make sure that the customer in your store is treated as if the life of your business depends on it-it does."

It is interesting that the business community can see this all important concept but many times we, as members of the church, do not. Actually, treating people "special" and showing people a "sincere, genuine concern" is one of the grandest themes in the Bible.

GOD’S CONCERN FOR MAN

God’s concern for man has been demonstrated over and over again throughout scripture. However, His greatest concern, His concern for man’s soul, is clearly seen "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Is there any greater expression of true love and concern for lost souls than to give up one’s only Son? Not only giving him up but also knowing that he would suffer one of the cruelest deaths known to man. Yet, God’s concern for man’s lost condition is so great that He freely gave His Son, that lost souls could be redeemed.

CHRIST’S CONCERN FOR MAN

Important to us is Christ’s great concern for mankind. One need remember that although God was willing to offer Christ to suffer death for all men that Christ did not have to do such. Christ was a man (1 Tim. 2:5), thus a free moral agent. Peter in trying stop the arrest (and crucifixion) of Jesus drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus (Jn. 18:10). Christ told Peter to sheath his sword and then let it be known that he could stop this, and the events to follow, if he so chose. "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels" (Mat. 26:53)? Christ made it clear then, as he does now through His Word, He didn’t have to suffer death on the cross. But Christ 1.) Wanted to fulfill the scriptures (Mat.26:54,56) and 2.) Has such great concern for the lost souls of mankind that he willingly suffered death upon the cross. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Ph. 2:6-8).

ARE WE SHOWING CONCERN FOR MANKIND?

As was mentioned concerning the retention of customers, the problem was that the customer didn’t feel special. We as Christians are not dealing with "customers" rather we are dealing with souls. But the principle still applies "do people see genuine concern, do they feel special, when we are speaking to them about Christianity?" People need to know that someone cares about them. We can show this genuine concern and care when we remember that the soul is more valuable than anything this world possesses (Matt 16:26) and as has already been mentioned, the love shown by God and Christ for mankind (Rom 5:7). Also expressed earlier was the idea to treat your customer as if the life of your business depended on it. We would do good to learn from this ever important lesson. Treat those of whom we are speaking about Christianity as if the eternal life of their soul and ours depended on it-it does! "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand"(Eze. 3:17-20).

by Sean Hochdorf

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