As devoted stewards . . .

• We give generously. Giving puts our devotion into action. Because of our devotion to Jesus, we generously give Him our best. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8 NIV). He also said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
• We follow Jesus’ example of serving. Jesus said, “…the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve . . .” (Matthew 20:28). Filled with Christ’s love and grace, we become new people who are prompted to follow His lead by helping and serving others. “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him Who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
• We love others. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19). We are equipped by Christ to be loving people because He changes us into loving people. Paul wrote, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Peter wrote, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
• We are in this world but not of the world (John 15:19). We acknowledge that God is the owner and the source of all good things. We are devoted to Jesus, so we hold things of this world loosely. We love people rather than things. May God keep our hearts devoted to Him and, through our devotion, may He be glorified.