Most college students know how to save money. You buy the generic brands at the grocery store, carpool to save on gas and go as long as possible before doing your laundry. Going out to eat at a restaurant is a special occasion, most of your clothes come from Goodwill and you budget your paycheck for work-study so it will last you until the next.
The reason we save money is, of course, so we can have enough to eat and enjoy ourselves every now and then. We are learning how to manage our money so we can pay for all the necessities—food, utilities, a place to live, car payments and insurance—and then have fun. However, there are many things that we consider necessities that we can easily go without.
Coffee, for example, is something many students cannot seem to live without. Some of us pay $3-$6 per drink at our local coffee shops, multiple times each week. And sometimes we end up buying a muffin or brownie to go with it. After a while, this really starts to add up.
We The Threefold are not saying this is wrong, but we would like you to pause and think for a moment about what else you could do with the money you would normally spend on coffee. Think about the philosophy behind the Wells Project that took place in the fall, and the moving words of recent chapel speaker Rudy Carrasco.
We The Threefold love the fact that students at John Brown University participate in so many ministries and missions trips, and many students graduate with plans to glorify God through their various careers. We see a passion for the Gospel and changing the world in many students here, but we do not often see that passion put into action.
As Christians, we cannot continue to sit idly by and support good causes from the social media sideline. Liking statuses, sharing and retweeting can only do so much. The world runs on money, not good sentiments. Think about how much more gratification we would have if we set aside the money we spend on our own pleasures and gave it to a cause bigger than ourselves.
We The Threefold believe that most “poor college students” can still find areas in their lives to give, whether it be money, time or other resources. If you can’t give up your weekly cup of joe or new pair of Chacos, maybe volunteering or working at a nonprofit is a better way for you to give. We The Threefold urge you to think about giving to people, organizations and causes you are passionate about and putting your passion into action.