Ordinary Moments – Feb 24

Steven PutmanLiturgyLeave a Comment

I sometimes spend more money than I should. I make decisions based upon my wants and not my needs. Those actions can create a financial difficulty or circumstance where more sacrifice is needed. Instant gratification or selfish impulses can create havoc in one’s bank account, marriage, or family. All these issues to deal with simply because I wanted what I wanted and I got it. Yes, it sounds like the actions of a child.

However, I know I am not alone. We all can easily find ourselves acting in this manner. This is why it struck me to listen once again to the words of Jesus when he says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The words are reminiscent of another of Jesus’ phrases, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The problem is that too often I would like for others to fulfill my wants instead of needs, and I can seemingly love myself by doing what I already mentioned above.

A stewardship way of life means that I wisely steward what I have, and I cannot give what I do not have. Have you ever given someone a present you couldn’t afford and think that was love? It wasn’t. We don’t show love by giving what we do not possess. We show love by meeting another’s needs and by sharing our very self with them. At our core, what we long for from others more than anything else is love. Would I have others give me lavish gifts and shower me with empty compliments or would I have them give to me something much more valuable: the love in their hearts? In turn, I need to love myself more by realizing that no purchase will offer fulfillment more than the love of God shown to me in Christ Jesus.

-Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *