A Message from the Pastor
Faithful Stewards # 1
Faithful Stewards of What God has Given to Us -Ourselves
I have a friend who really likes to go to a particular
restaurant and order their double cheeseburger and fries.
It is good, but it is really greasy. He likes to say it is
'fat free'. When we say "Huh?" He replies: "They include
the fat at no extra charge! The fat's free!"
We pray in the offertory prayer:
"Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what
you have first given us: ourselves, our time and our
possessions, signs of your gracious love..."
God expects us to be faithful stewards over everything that
God has given to us, including ourselves. This includes our
physical, emotional, and relationship health. Our
lifestyles and our thoughts are simply sets of habits
strengthened by daily practices. We can, and in many cases
should, alter and change them.
We begin by recognizing that not everything is good for us.
St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:12:
"Some of you say, 'We can do anything we want to.' But I
tell you that not everything is good for us."
It is really pretty simple: promiscuous sex, unhealthy
diets, drugs, excessive alcohol, lack of adequate sleep, and
too much work are not good for us. Can we engage in these
activities if we want? Of course we can. Should we? Of
course not! The first step in being a faithful steward of
ourselves is to admit that everything is not good for us.
Step two: Learn to control our appetites for all things,
learn moderation and practice self-control. Some one has
said that the things we like are usually...
"...illegal, immoral or fattening."
Yes, unfortunately they are. Too often we let our stomachs,
our desires, and our lusts be in control of our lives. We
need to take control. Too often we simply want instant
gratification. We go for a momentary high, even if it has
long term negative consequences. This step calls for us to
change our behavior. We need to learn to say no to our
appetites for all things, learn moderation and practice some
self-control.
Step three: Control risk factors and develop healthy habits.
1. Wear a seat belt.
Accidents are the number one cause of death and disability
in people under the age of 45. Buckling a seat belt
provides instantaneous result: your risk of serious injury
or death goes down by 35 to 50%. It is the simplest and
most effective prevention step you can take.
2. Don't drink and drive.
Half of all traffic deaths, and causalities from fire,
drowning, suicide and homicide can be connected to alcohol
abuse. Divorce and family violence are often linked to
alcohol abuse. If you drink, drink responsibly and
moderately - no more than two drinks a day. If you drink,
do not drive.
3. Quit smoking.
Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of
death in our country. Smoking is responsible for one out of
every six deaths, yet one third of Americans still smoke.
You can quit smoking. It won't be easy, but you can do it.
Get help from your doctor. Tell ten friends and family
members to help you. Find substitutes for smoking: go for a
walk, chew gum, drink water.
4. Practice moral sex.
This is the sure way to prevent getting AIDS or other
sexually transmitted diseases. What is moral sex?
Faithfulness in marriage, abstinence in singleness.
5. Exercise regularly.
The lack of exercise has been clearly linked to heart
disease. Sedentary individuals are twice as likely to
develop coronary heart disease than more active people are.
Our physical activity needs to be ongoing, frequent and long
term.
6.
Eat a healthy diet.
Our typical high calorie, high fat diets have led to many of
us being overweight. What we eat and how much of what we
eat affects our physical and mental health. The National
Cancer Institute estimates that one third of all cancer
deaths may be related to the foods we eat. Eat less fat and
fewer high cholesterol foods and eat more fruits and
vegetables. And don't forget to control the size of your
portions.
7. Get your weight under control.
For many of us this isn't easy - but still necessary. There
is no perfect or ideal weight. Good health comes in a
variety of sizes and shapes. But most Americans are simply
carrying around too much weight.
8. Manage your stress.
Stress is the body's response to any demand that confronts
it. We can manage our stress when we see life as a
challenge rather than a threat or an unending series of
hassles. When we have a mission or purpose in life, an
overriding belief that what we are doing is both right and
meaningful, we can better cope with stress. Don't wait for
bad things to happen to you. Take charge of you life.
9. Resolve relational conflicts in your life.
Good communication, close ties and healthy working
relationships with other people can protect us from many of
the emotional and physical effects of stressful life events.
Work to improve your communication skills. Learn to avoid
burying your head in the sand at one extreme and flying into
a rage on the other. Instead seek suitable compromise.
Step four: Get started today in being a more faithful
steward of your life, body, health and relationships. How?
1. Set specific, achievable goals.
People who plan ahead are much more successful over the long
term than those who just plunge in without knowing where
they are going or how they will get there. It has to be more
than "Gee, I wish I could lose some weight." How are you
going to do it? How much? By when? Make your goals specific
enough to measure, but also make them realistic and
achievable for you. Losing 15 pounds in the next six months
is much more realistic then trying to do so by the end of
this month.
2.
Start slowly.
Make gradual changes in your life style. Don't try to do it
all at once. It will overwhelm you. Pick one or two areas
to start with. For example: Eat two helpings of fruits and
vegetables each day and go for a daily brisk walk for 15
minutes. The important thing is to make gradual changes
that allow you to reach your goals long term.
3. Learn from your mistakes.
Don't beat yourself up when you make poor health choices.
Instead, learn from them. Ask yourself why you make certain
choices. Do you 'pig out' when you are nervous or
frustrated? Do you drink too much when you are having
relationship difficulties, or is it when you are with
certain people? Analyze, make conclusions, and then change
your thought patterns and behaviors.
4. Develop specific strategies to deal with problem areas.
Determine which are your health problem areas and then sit
down with a trusted family member or friend and together
develop a realistic strategy for dealing with it. Rely on
them for support in your efforts.
God wants us to take care of ourselves. In fact, he even
expects it of us. He created us and has redeemed us. He has
given us life and new life. Jesus said in John 10:10:
"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Jesus is not just talking about life eternal with God in
heaven. He is also talking about life right here and now. We
cannot live life to the fullest; we cannot live it
abundantly unless we take care of ourselves.
St. Paul writes in Romans 12:1
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship."
Are our bodies fit to present to their creator as a living
sacrifice? I know I need to work at it. Do you? Will
you? When will you start? Amen.
Glen VanderKloot
