No Longer I

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2016

It is interesting the number of high school juniors and seniors that start getting involved in many school clubs, civic organizations, and even church activities. Don’t get me wrong. The work they do is often greatly needed in the communities in which they spend their time and give of their talent. And I get it, since I have encouraged my own children to get more involved. However, many of these teens were missing in action during the first years of high school. There is one major motivator that gets them going and parents like me pushing: college applications.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if more people, regardless of their age, gave of themselves on a more regular and consistent basis? Too many of us need college applications or job resumes as motivation to get involved. What if more people did all these things simply because they had been changed into people that could see themselves living life no other way?

If we are to be crucified with Christ, we should see no other way of living. And our motivation matters, because we can’t gain eternal life from giving of ourselves. Only faith in Christ can give us that. We act a certain way because, as Paul said to the Galatians, “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” Good stewardship is not about actions; it is a way of living. You don’t give of yourself because it is the right thing to do, but instead because it is WHAT YOU DO.

In the end, the stewardship way of life won’t get you into a good college or get you a great job. Also, it won’t gain you eternal life. But you will live eternally with God, not because of what you did, but because when God looks He won’t see you, He will see Jesus.