My pastor likes to say that his parents would always remind him to “leave a place you visited a little better than the way you found it.” I have always tried to live by those words as well. The important word here is “tried” as I am sure that I have not always been successful.
The desire to always go a step further, to give even more than is required, is truly honorable. Jesus speaks to his disciples about this when he urges them to give more than what is asked and to travel two miles in service when all that was required of them is one. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to live the same way. It is fundamental to understanding a stewardship way of life.
True generosity has no limits. When we say that mature disciples are to answer the call of Jesus Christ regardless of the cost, we are inviting good stewards to embody this type of generosity. We can be the person who does not respond to the call, be the person who responds and gives what is required, or, finally, be the person who seeks to give above and beyond what is required. God doesn’t just give us what we need, but he gives us more than we need. Made in his image, we are called to do the same. If we try to live in this manner every day, then we might just succeed in leaving this world a little better than the way we found it.
Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
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