Bethany United Church of Christ


Stewardship Notes: Let Christ Be Your Example

"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." II Corinthians 8:9 (NRSV)

As Disciples of Christ Jesus we are called to imitate him. So what does it mean for us to be willing to give to others to this degree where Jesus was willing to give up what it means to be God so that he could be human for our sake as the Apostle Paul reminds us? Do we have the courage to see all of our life as gift? Parts of our culture teach us that what we have is what we deserve or have earned and is ours to do with as we choose. Jesus took what he deserved and set it aside for us and calls us to do the same. Do we have the courage to live the example Jesus set for us? It means not being afraid and trusting God. It means not living a life designed to give us the belief that we are secure. It means ultimately trusting God with every aspect of our lives both internally and externally. There is nothing easy about this but the deeper our relationship with God becomes, the easier it is to live out this example. Let us all together know God deeper so that we can become givers more and more like Jesus with our own lives.