Shining the light of Christ in your own corner of the world.

by Ronald Rousseau

When people think of missionaries, they think about those who share the gospel in remote areas. But that takes most of us out of missions. The truth is, there are opportunities to be missionaries right where we are.

Unfortunately, other things can get in the way of seeing those opportunities to shine our light. Insight from God’s Word shows us how to avoid doing this.

A mission story

I once spoke to a missionary about a mission she was involved with in South America. It was not the first time she had ministered there. While setting up the clinic site, she noticed two boys who seemed troubled, so she inquired of a church member about who they were. She learned that they were living in a broken home and facing many challenges.

One of the missionary’s favorite methods of reaching children was to invite them out to have ice cream. She hoped they would come, and they did. The missionary noticed that when the children arrived at the ice cream store, their faces displayed disbelief. One of the little boys was submissive, while his brother was aggressive and angry. They looked at her with expressions that asked, “What are you getting out of this?”

It took about three trips to get ice cream before the children softened up. These two boys needed profound intervention. While the ice cream was only a temporary fix, the missionary did what she could with the opportunity she was given.

Fortunately, the two boys returned every day to see this missionary. When it was time to leave, one of them asked her, “When will I see you again?”

This story leaves us with a question: Do we really have to travel thousands of miles just to minister to two young boys?

Basket and light

The answer is no. We have opportunities to shine Christ’s light every day, but other things can get in the way of this. Jesus explains in Matthew 5:15, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

What is the basket that hides our light? Often it is our material possessions. In a recent sermon by Brother Josue Aleman of the 71st Street church in Sacramento, California, I was reminded of something I had forgotten about after living in the United States most of my life: We have a lot of stuff! Most people in the rest of the world do not. In many places, every item in a home serves a specific purpose, and most of the time there is nothing extra.

I remember during one mission trip, we visited a patient too sick to come to the clinic. A doctor from Monterrey, Mexico, and I walked about a mile and a half to his home. When we arrived, I was taken aback by the scarcity. The home was simple — a dirt floor with few belongings — but the purpose of each item was evident. One plate and one spoon for each member of the household. Three stones in the middle of the room for cooking. The father lay on a mat on the floor. I thought of my basement and all the stuff I own.

When we picture Matthew 5:15, we should imagine a home like that, where each item has a specific purpose for survival. Jesus’ mention of a basket isn’t accidental. In that time, the basket was used to carry provision to the home in the form of food. A visitor could easily judge the health of a household by glancing at the basket and whether it was full or empty.

There is a direct relationship between the basket and the lamp: They signify our provisions and God’s presence. In this passage, Jesus isn’t just talking about any lamp; He’s talking about Himself. Throughout Scripture, the lamp symbolizes God’s presence and His Word. Jesus is the light that has been brought into the world.

So the question becomes, will we let Him shine in our daily lives, or will we cover Him up?

We may not have a lot of material things, but our basket can be anything: professions, positions, or pride in what we’ve achieved — the things we use to provide for ourselves. Matthew 5:15 tells us that these things should never become a hindrance to God’s light or blind us to the mission He has given us. Rather, our baskets should be resources through which His light can shine as we share our abundance.

This is why during GC mission trips, we take the opportunity to bless the community with gift baskets at the end of our nightly revival-style services. The baskets contain household essentials: groceries, blankets, hygiene products. We also have toys for the kids. It is telling that sometimes the children prefer to get a food basket than a toy when given the choice. This indicates their real need.

The proper place

There are surely “two boys” — or whomever — within your circle of influence whose lives could be brightened by an act of generosity or kindness. As Matthew 5:15 reminds us, it simply requires us to not cover our light with our basket. Once we put the basket in its proper place, the light of the lamp will become a tool to help those who are in need. We will find those two boys close by. If we don’t, we will discover that we’ve missed opportunities to do mission work right where we are.

The Great Commission tells us to make disciples wherever we may be. Sometimes it’s more intimidating to reach out to those closest to us, but we don’t want to pass anyone by. Your generous support allows the General Conference to do mission work in nations everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do missions where you live and work. Wherever that is, God wants you to shine His light and share your basket.

God is hoping you receive this message. And so are two little boys, somewhere.