Under the Cross of Christ

A few years ago I heard about a teacher who, while cleaning out her attic, came upon a cross she purchased years earlier. It was a crucifix—a wooden cross with a silver image of Jesus hanging on it. She put the cross on her home office desk and left it there for several days. However, she needed some space to work, so she laid the cross on top of her checkbook and her bills. Underneath the small body of Jesus, she could see how many frequent flyer miles she had earned that month for charging expenses to her American Express card. It made her think about how her faith should impact her finances. If her money were really under the cross of Jesus, what would she buy? What would she not buy? How much would she give away? How much would she keep? It was a strange thing, looking at the crucified Christ lying on top of her checkbook.

A few days later she put the crucifix on top of some papers she was grading for her students. It made her think about how her faith should impact her work. If her job were really under the cross of Jesus, how would she treat her students? Her colleagues? How would she prepare for her classes?

A few days later she put the cross on top of some recent photographs of her family and friends. It made her think about how her faith should impact her relationships. If her relationships were really under the cross of Jesus, what kind of wife would she be, what kind of mother, what kind of grandmother, what kind of friend?

For several weeks that cross lay on her desk, and it seemed to ask her, on a daily basis: “What difference does my faith make in my life? What impact does my religion have on my finances, my job, and my relationships? What would my life look like if it were truly under the cross of Christ?”