That's right. It's the one time of year when giving is on everyone's mind. The day after Halloween, Christmas decorations start going up in the stores of America to signal the intention to bleed you dry of every last drop of cash you have so you can give stuff to other people. All of this happens in celebration of a Savior who was born into poverty and never really owned anything as far as we know. As crazy as Christmas can be, at least giving is on the collective mind of the nation this time of year. It may be the only time when people are thinking more about giving than getting.
But what about you, the campus missionary? How does this spirit of giving fit in with your mission to shine the light of hope on your campus? Actually, giving is an essential part of every missionary's mission. It's one of the five commitments you make when you become a campus missionary. Sharing what you have with your school is what being a campus missionary is all about.Here are four crucial areas of giving for a campus missionary: (Action points Taken from G:5-Growing in the 5 Commitments of a Campus Missionary)
- Time. Time may not be money, but time is valuable and everyone knows it. When you give your time to serve your campus, it sends a message that you are serious about your mission of hope.
- Talent. Whether you realize it or not, you have talents that God has given you. Art, speaking, music, and writing are obvious ones, but what about less obvious talents you have? The Bible says that God gives some of us a special talent for serving others. Leadership is a talent that God gives to some that helps them organize and mobilize others more effectively. Servanthood is a special gift God gives some more than other. There are a lot more. Ask yourself: "What am I good at?" then find a way to share that talent with your school.
- Treasure. You may not realize it, but you have more money than most people around the world. 1 in 6 people in the world live on less than $1 a day. What you have could have a huge affect on the world around you. In this Christmas season, you could even start a drive for the local Salvation Army or some other organization.
- Testimony. Your greatest gift from God is the story of your life with Him. This is a time when "re-gifting" is not just acceptable-it's excellent.
Don't keep what you have to yourself. None of it will really do you any good that way. In eternity, only that which you gave away will really matter.
Jesus said it this way: "...store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them." Matthew 6:20 (CEV)
Your time, your talent, your treasure, your testimony - give it away.
'Tis the season
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