The gift we don't know we have: Relationships

In this Christmas season, when we shop for gifts to give those we love, it's worth considering again what gifts we can give to God.

You know the old adage, "Time, Talent, Treasure," as in what we have to give to God? My friend Rev. James B Notkin adds a fourth item to that trio. He calls Christians to give to God's service our "time, skills, resources, and relationships."

It's that fourth one, relationships, that may be the gift we don't know we have.

Who we know, who's in our sphere of influence, what networks we're a part of -- those are relationship connections we can offer to Christ for his use. We're all connected to other people, and each of our relational webs is a resource we can draw on for mission and ministry.

I've heard it said that in the past, the highest "titled" people were considered the most valuable: Chiefs, presidents, CEOs, bosses... But times have changed. In today's world, the most networked people are the more valuable people to an organization. Those can be surprising people - good talkers, secretaries, insurance agents, as well as networkers and mission mobilizers like Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship's staff, who connect with scores of churches and organizations all across the country.

Networked people connect needs with resources, seekers with answerers, innovators with implementers, team-seekers with teams, passion-holders with passionate organizations.

If we want to grow our influence as Christians in mission, we'll want to run our networks.

Be all you can be for Christ. Spend your time, use your skills, deploy your resources, and run your relationships - to the glory of God.

-- Dave Hackett