Time, Talent, & Treasure

If fruit is what we leave behind, then time, talent, and treasure are the roots that grow it. These are the resources entrusted to us, not just to manage, but to steward. Jesus put it plainly: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Our values don’t show up in what we say; they show up in what we schedule and what we spend.

Mike Mueller, Todd Smith, Jason Boaz, and I wrote about this topic years ago. It's also a message that my pastor at Flatirons Church speaks about often. Each time I consider Time, Talent, & Treasure, I take away something new. Here's where I landed this time:

Time: The Non-Renewable Resource

Annie Dillard once wrote, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” Most days aren’t headlines; they’re ordinary. But the way we spend ordinary days adds up to the shape of a life. In my consulting conversations, I often hear the same tension: a pro says family is most important, yet their calendar never reflects it. Another insists mentoring matters, but somehow tournaments consume fourteen hours a week. Time tells the truth more clearly than intentions ever can. For me, time stewardship manifests in small choices, such as letting a one-on-one meeting with a team member run a little longer because they're opening up, protecting family time, reading His Word, or setting aside an hour for reflection instead of reacting.

Talent: The Gift That Serves

Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire said, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” Talent is more than skill; it’s a gift. And like fruit, it’s not meant for the tree itself. I’ve watched Members underestimate their own talents because the work feels effortless to them. That’s often the very sign of giftedness: what comes naturally to you may be extraordinary to others. Talent isn’t just what gets you noticed; it’s what gives others life when you use it for their good.

Treasure: The Mirror of the Heart

Money isn’t the mission, but it funds the mission. Budgets are never just math, they’re mirrors. I’ve seen leaders invest in staff education, coffee for the team, or travel that stretches perspective. I’ve also seen leaders guard every dime for themselves. The difference isn’t how much is in the account—it’s what the account reveals about the heart. Consider Michael Jordan’s “Dynasty Collection,” six individual Air Jordan sneakers he wore while clinching each of his six NBA championships. Sotheby’s sold the set in 2024 for over $8 million. On the surface, it seems absurd to spend millions on pieces of rubber and leather. But that sale wasn’t really about materials. It was about what those sneakers represented: greatness, sacrifice, legacy. The buyer’s treasure opened a window into their priorities. Treasure always tells the story of what we value.

Here’s what I’ve learned: when time, talent, and treasure align with what we say we value, momentum follows. When they drift, dissonance isn’t far behind.

Try This (As the Days Shorten)

1. Work: Audit your calendar. Did last week reflect what matters most, or just what yelled loudest?

2. Home: Reclaim one “prime time” hour you usually give to work and redirect it to family.

3. Mentorship: Use your talent quietly to solve a problem for someone else.

4. Leadership: Cover a small cost that isn’t yours but makes a difference for your team.

5. Personal audit: Answer: “If someone studied my last 7 days, they’d conclude I value ......... most.”

My Commitment

Lately, my calendar has tilted too far toward urgent tasks. This fall, I’m protecting one morning block each week for strategic conversations with PGA Members, time not consumed by noise, but invested in people. That’s how I want my time, talent, and treasure to grow fruit that nourishes others.

And you? As the days shorten and the season shifts, may your roots deepen, time protected, talent offered, treasure aligned with what you value most.

Next time, we’ll look at how mentorship multiplies through small, faithful moments.