It seems last year was a banner year for Edge, Microsoft’s preeminent web browser. Since we celebrate what we value most, my interest was piqued when the landing page offered the opportunity to see “what made 2023 memorable” – at least according to Microsoft Edge. Clicking through the presentation I found that last year Edge users:
Engaged in 1.9 million AI Chats
Created over 1.8 billion images
Found, on average, $400 last year through the savings plug-in. That’s over $4 Billion in savings collectively.
The next slide gave me pause…
Over the past 365 days, the users of Microsoft Edge spent the equivalent of 9,000 years, not on the internet, but just on Edge playing free games. That is an amazing statistic! For Microsoft, one worthy of celebration. For me, one worthy of consideration.
Two data points stand out in this celebratory benchmark – “9000 years” and “free.”
Many Bible scholars hold the known universe, the Earth, and all of space, everything, was created between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. So, Edge users, collectively, spent the same amount of time playing online games in just one year alone as the time that has passed since God said, “Let there be light”. That’s amazing!
The second point is equally noteworthy – “free.” Because we know there’s no such thing as a free lunch and that there is a cost to everything, we should understand there is no such thing as a free game. What’s the cost here? Time! 9,000 years’ worth!
Time is a high commodity. There is a limited supply of it and a constant demand for it. It is interesting how we spend it…or should I say invest it. Time is a resource entrusted to us by God. The Lord gives us 24 hours each day and 365 days each year. Time! We can spend it, or we can invest it.
How does God want us to use this resource? What return is He looking for on His investment?
These are great stewardship questions that should be applied to every resource the Lord entrusts to us whether that resource is Temporal Capital (Time), Financial Capital (Money), Intellectual Capital (Knowledge), Physical Capital (Ability), or Social Capital (Relationships). How are we leveraging God’s resources for the greatest good and His glory?
These are the questions South Carolina Christian Foundation assists our clients in answering. With a Biblically-based philosophy of stewardship and the tools and techniques to help you maximize your giving and minimize your tax liabilities, SCCF is here to help you think through the greatest return on the assets you manage.
Reflecting on 2023, South Carolina Christian Foundation is excited to share just a few points of excitement:
SCCF Clients distributed $11,400,000 to 677 charities, most of which spend every day sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Over 500 ladies across the state are engaging with local Christian charities through Circle 555, SCCF’s Women’s Giving Circle. Collectively, these ladies awarded nearly $228,000 in 2023 to ministries.
Approximately 150 local ministries were personally engaged and encouraged through SCCF’s Ministry to Ministries Initiative. These organizations daily address critical social needs while sharing the love of Christ with the least of these.
18 community leaders from three different localities volunteered time and expertise in service to an SCCF Community Leadership Council, which recommended and awarded $225,000 in Community Trust grants.
These, to me, are hallmarks of good stewardship, the wise use of God’s time and financial resources. These points are worth celebrating, and for South Carolina Christian Foundation, are what make 2023 memorable!
For more information regarding Biblical stewardship and Proactive and Tax-wise philanthropy, please contact South Carolina Christian Foundation. 864.949.5800 or Admin@SCChristianFoundation.org.