In today’s world, the phrase “the customer is always right” has taken on a distorted and toxic meaning. What once aimed to encourage businesses to listen to the needs of their patrons has mutated into a justification for arrogance, entitlement, and downright disrespect. This cultural mindset has created workplaces where staff are mistreated, verbally abused, and even harassed under the assumption that anyone paying for a service has unlimited rights over the people providing it.
We are witnessing a resurgence of a master-servant dynamic, reminiscent of the darkest periods in human history. Just because someone is being paid to do a job does not mean they become your emotional punching bag. This is not service—it is servitude. And at its worst, it echoes the shadows of slavery, where one person believed they held ownership over another. When customers start believing that money gives them the right to disrespect, shout, humiliate, or even threaten workers, society begins to rot from the inside out.
Everyday Slavery in the Service Industry
Walk into any retail store, restaurant, airline, or customer service line, and you’ll find frontline workers bracing themselves for the next onslaught. They know the drill: smile no matter what, apologize for things they didn’t do, and swallow their dignity to keep their job. They are often underpaid, overworked, and expected to tolerate behavior that would be considered abusive in any other context.
The phrase “the customer is always right” has enabled a dangerous power imbalance. It has created a reality where too many believe that payment equals power, and that mistreatment of others is somehow justified by the exchange of money. But what kind of society do we become when we allow people to believe that buying a coffee gives them the right to crush someone’s spirit?
Jesus Taught the Opposite
The Gospel teaches us to treat others as we would like to be treated (Luke 6:31). Respect is not optional—it’s commanded. We are called to humility, not superiority; to kindness, not cruelty. Jesus, the ultimate servant-leader, washed His disciples’ feet. He served in love, not under pressure or manipulation. He never demanded worship—He earned it by His sacrifice.
If Christ, the King of Kings, could kneel before men and serve them in love, how dare we think we have the right to belittle others simply because we hold a receipt?
Mutual Respect Over One-Sided Power
We thrive as a people when we move away from one-sided expectations. Workers are human beings with emotions, families, dreams, and dignity. They deserve to be treated with the same respect and care you would expect if roles were reversed. Nobody wants to be screamed at, ridiculed, or disrespected—especially not for a paycheck.
Next time you interact with someone in a service role, remember: your humanity is not greater than theirs. You are not more deserving of respect than they are. Your value doesn’t increase because of a credit card swipe.
Thrive on Less Entitlement, More Grace
Let’s reject the mindset that payment entitles us to dominance. Let’s move away from the poisonous slogan that “the customer is always right” and replace it with a new one: “The person in front of me deserves respect.”
Let us thrive on less entitlement and more humility. Less demanding and more gratitude. Less pride and more kindness. Because the truth is, if we don’t treat people like people, we become less human ourselves.
Scripture to Reflect On:
- “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” — Luke 6:31
- “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” — Romans 12:10
- “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18
Thrive by serving with love, not by asserting control. Respect builds societies. Entitlement tears them down.
Thrive on Less 
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