Tag Archives: Parable of the Talents

The Three T’s of Philanthropy

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Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, as expressed by the donation of money. While “charity” solves short term problems of the needy, “philanthropy” solves long term needs. A popular acronym is “The Three Big T’s of Philanthropy” — Time, Talent, and Treasure. 

The 3 T’s promote the spiritual well-being of the individual giver and the financial and human needs of the poor.

The word steward first appeared in language during the Middle Ages as a “job description” — a steward, or manager, of a large household. Over time, it was used more broadly to describe management of others and activities outside the home, in business, courts of law, and organizations. Nowadays… 

A good steward builds good relationships with others in order to earn their loyalty.

You may recall the biblical story of the “good steward” in Mathew’s Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The story teaches us that to those who are entrusted with much, whether it be money, assets or non-financial riches, much is expected.

Stewardship has become more than the time, talent, and treasure of an individual, and today includes all of life: mind, body, and spirit, material possessions, friendships, relationships, and attitude about our ourselves and our place in the world and the responsibility this entails.

The acclaimed author C.S. Lewis once said: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

How can the Stewardship Foundation help you practice the “Three T’s of Philanthropy” to build a better world while at the same time building a safer financial future for you and your heirs? We advise; you choose. Call (614) 800-7985 for a conversation.

We Believe… That Giving is Collaborative

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As we continue to reflect on another of the six statements of belief that guide our actions at the Stewardship Foundation, we explore Credo #2:

We believe… 
that giving is a collaborative act 
between the donor, the charity, and their God.

As a 501(c)(3) investment ministry that provides charitable organizations both legacy and endowment opportunities for gift planning, the phrase “collaborative act” implies doing (not just thinking), working (but not alone) and accomplishing (with others) to produce or create something.

Some might call the work that we do with nonprofits “teamwork” — and it is! Ecclesiastes 9 tells us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” When our advisors and charities work together, we get much more done and accomplish more.

Our mission is to advise and support strategic plans that will motivate donors to give generously. We often smile when we think of the Bible verse “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)

In the Parable of the Talents, we discover that we should never cling to our money, but invest it liberally so that it increases the good that it does 100-fold. In fact, our #2 Credo keeps us on track as faithful stewards described in the Bible. Bishop Barron explains how in his video that explains the often misunderstood Parable of the Talents.

Next month, we revisit another Credo. To see the our list of Credos on our website, go here ».

Stewardship is Our Journey

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At the core of The Stewardship Foundation’s core beliefs is the biblical story of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) where Christ teaches that to those who are entrusted with much, whether it be money, assets or non-financial riches, much is expected.

As stewards of our clients’ investment choices, we often reflect on our mission and how well we communicate this to our friends, family, and the clients who entrust us with their financial future everyday.

all saintsAs Peter preached to the early Christians, and what is still our personal challenge today, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet 4:8-11)

Yes, our vocation is to be “good stewards” of other people’s money, and we certainly try hard to do that with strength and without complaining, though since October we’ve been tempted to throw darts at a photo of the Merrill Lynch bull.

According the U.S. Bishop’s Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, under Obstacles to Stewardship, we read…

At times, we can find it far too easy to ignore spiritual realities and to deny religion a role in shaping human and social values. As Catholics who have entered into the mainstream of American society and experienced its advantages, many of us also have been adversely influenced by this secular culture. We know what it is to struggle against selfishness and greed, and we realize that it is harder for many today to accept the challenge of being a Christian steward. It is essential, therefore, that we make a special effort to understand the true meaning of stewardship and live accordingly.

As Christmas approaches, let us be reminded to review our roles of Christian Stewardship, and as the Bishops suggest, look to Mary as the ideal steward, living her life in a spirit of fidelity and service.