Gift Planning in Time of War

The recent outbreak of war between Israel IDF and Hamas militants has the entire world on edge. The U.S. support of the war in Ukraine against the Russian forces is already straining the capacity of foreign aid overseas. How do we see the war? What can this mean for our investments? 

Our original founders were inspired by a group of three individuals, one of which was Richard Enright, a former D.C. estate planning attorney, charitable planning pioneer, and advocate for worldwide religious liberties. His vision for all men to be inherently free and maintain religious liberty inspires us everyday.

We expected U.S. economic growth to slow in 2024, but did not expect to have the events of 2023 on top of this forecast. Bloomberg has addressed the conflict’s potential to disrupt the global economy and possibly tip it into recession if more countries are drawn into the fighting.

If the conflict does widen, we may see gas prices return to over $5 per gallon and, as a result, we will likely see costs for many of the products Americans depend on everyday…food, heating/cooling, jet fuel, and so on to rise dramatically. Holding onto our savings and investments will become a more urgent priority.

At the Stewardship Foundation, we do not have our head in the desert sand (so to speak). We are adamant about being good stewards with our donors’ money and will apply our skills as charitable gift consultants to protect our investors to the best of our ability. We pray that our foundational values of stewardship and the call to Christian conscience will provide the divine providence needed to manage risk and remain disciplined to stay the course during this difficult time.

Prayer for Peace

Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica, devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. One afternoon about three o’clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him “Cornelius… Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.”  —Acts 10:1-4

Prayers and Almsgiving. Both are acceptable to the Lord and because of this, Christian charities are stepping up to give everyone an opportunity to provide medical care, food and shelter, and humanitarian assistance to those in need in conflict areas in the Middle East, especially Israel. For guidance on giving to those in need in the Middle East, especially in Israel, please email our office at info@stewardshipworks.org attention “Give for Peace.”

A Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the true King of peace.
In You alone is found freedom.

Please free our world from conflict.
Bring unity to troubled nations.
Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart.

Dispel all darkness and evil.
Protect the dignity of every human life.
Replace hatred with Your love.

Give wisdom to world leaders.
Free them from selfish ambition.
Eliminate all violence and war.

Glorious Virgin Mary,
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Every angel and saint:
Please pray for peace.
Pray for unity amongst nations.
Pray for unity amongst all people.
Pray for the most vulnerable.
Pray for those suffering.
Pray for the fearful.
Pray for those most in need.
Pray for us all.

Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear our prayers.
Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.

Lessons from a Young Rich Man

We’ve all heard the biblical story about the about the rich young man who approached Jesus to ask how to gain eternal life. Jesus’s first reply was “obey my commandments.” The man then assured Jesus that he does obey all the Lord’s commandments! So Jesus looked this young wealthy man straight in the eye and said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell all that you have and give the money you make to the poor, then you will have treasure in heaven.” 

The rich young man now had a dilemma. If he sold all he had how would he be able to live out his life until his time of death when he would enjoy the treasures of heaven? It didn’t make sense to him. He became, as the Bible says, “very sad.” 

Jesus looked at him standing there, so sad, and he said, “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

How do we, as good generous Christians reconcile this in today’s world? We know that everything that God does is good and He wouldn’t give us anything that will purposely hurt us. The scripture makes it obvious that wealth can be a blessing from God and that when God gives wealth, there is joy and happiness along with it.

The young rich man to chose to keep his wealth? He was probably in his 20s. About 40 years later, the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and the lands around it. Homes of wealthy Jews were plundered, and all their riches and possessions taken from them.

The story gives us pause as we consider the attachment we have to the things of this world. But this is a human perspective! From God’s perspective, possessions (wealth) can be considered a blessing if that wealth does NOT separate us from God and is used to spread His mission on Earth.

How can we help you spread His Word?