DO WE HAVE A CHOICE
BUT TO SERVE AND LOVE THEE BEST OF ALL?
I’ve been reading the Catholic Church’s Stewardship
Letter from several decades ago, and have been moved by some of what I have
been reading. Today, I’d like to visit a bit of the section titled “The Call.”
It says that “the Christian vocation is essentially a call to be a disciple of
Jesus.” The letter goes on to say that the stewardship is part of that.
However, the line that grabbed me said “Christians are
called to be good stewards of the personal vocations they receive.”
How often is our understanding of stewardship limited to
money or serving in the church? Too often! What if our understanding of stewardship
is taken with us outside the church walls and outside our church “work” into
our “work” lives? That may seem easy if the call is to “ordained” work or “church”
work. But…
- ·
What if your call as an attorney is Jesus’ call
on your life?
- · What if your call as a farmer is Jesus’ call on
your life?
- ·
What if your call as a day care provider is
Jesus’ call on your life?
- ·
What if your call as teacher is Jesus’ call on
your life?
- ·
What if your call as [fill in the blank] is
Jesus’ call on your life?
Jesus calls all of us to follow him. Jesus called the original
12 disciples to follow him, to leave their lives and to become “fishers of men.”
We are called by Jesus as individuals. Just as each of us
is unique (just like snowflakes), our calls an our vocations are unique. We are
called and we must respond!
The call is for us. The call is now. The call is urgent.
So what is our response? It can be no, like the rich
young man:
Jesus answered, “If you want
to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this,
he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew
19:21-22)
But when we say yes, when we become a disciple of Jesus
Christ, then that response leads directly to stewardship.
Stewardship is the evidence of discipleship. Stewardship
is discipleship. We must apply the resources that we have been trusted with to
further the kingdom of God. We must make disciples of Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world, so that “thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On
earth as it is in heaven.”
Hear these words of the hymn, “Jesus Calls Us” with new
ears:
Jesus
Calls Us
Text: Cecil Frances
Alexander, 1818-1895
Music: William H. Jude
1.
Jesus
calls us o'er the tumult Serve and love thee best of all!! |
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