Proportionate Living
While we are hopefully all enjoying the long summer days, your Stewardship Committee is thinking ahead to the Stewardship Campaign that takes place during the last few months of the year, usually starting in October. In the coming weeks, we will have a few articles appearing in the St. Jude’s weekly newsletter, to introduce, or more exactly, to re-introduce some ideas about church life.
In the context of Stewardship, the phrase Proportionate Giving easily comes to mind, yet for the moment, we wish to direct your attention to “Living” instead of “Giving”. Jesus calls us to a life of servanthood: “For the Son of Man did no come to be served but to serve…” (Mark 10:45 – NRSV). Unfortunately, many of us find ourselves servant to the countless demands coming our way every day. With so many things being asked of us, we often respond to the most current demands, and move through our days jumping from one task to the next, one commitment following another.
Jesus too suffered from overwhelming demands on his time but he was careful to make sure that he kept things in balance. He easily could have spent his life healing the sick but he had other important things to do: “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43 – NRSV).
Jesus made sure he had time away from the crowds with his disciples, to teach and prepare them for their ministry. He also understood the need for solitude and for prayer to give him the strength to carry out his ministry: “…Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.” (Luke 9:28 – NRSV). He visited with his friends some of whom included “tax collectors and sinners!” (Matthew 11:19 – NRSV), taking time for fellowship with those whom he came to serve.
Jesus certainly understood the need to balance the various priorities in his life and ministry; he lived his life fully and proportionately. Are you, are we, doing the same?
We often talk about balancing our budget, which means our financial affairs. Perhaps we each can benefit by trying to balance our personal time budgets. Some things we just have to do, demands from our boss, caring for a sick child or other family members. However, there are many other things for which we do have the ability to choose. What is important in your life? Do you make sure to set aside time for it? Is it getting the proportional attention it should? And, don’t forget your personal mental and spiritual wellbeing. Keep or develop a daily discipline of reading scripture and quiet prayer. How often does one read that those few minutes spent every day yield “more than we can ask or imagine”.
Living proportionately is Christian Stewardship, and by living proportionately, we should find ourselves spending (and giving) proportionately. How we spend our money will come to reflect what is important in our lives; family, friends, hobbies, vacation, our community and, of course, our faith.
As Christians we need to follow Jesus’ example and show our faith through Proportionate Living.
Stewardship Committee Chair, Henry Popp