LEAVE AN INHERITANCE
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children…” (Proverbs 13:22a)
Inheritance means:
- Property or money passing at the owner’s death to the heir
- Legacy; something handed down from the past
- Something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession received from predecessors as if by succession (example: an inheritance of family pride)
- Portion, birthright, heritage
There are two kinds of inheritances. One is the material inheritance that we leave our children and our grandchildren. The other is the non-material inheritance we leave them.
Some people have leaving a material inheritance as their main goal. They strive to accumulate as many possessions and money as they possibly can to leave to their children and grandchildren. Some get so caught up in this goal that they don’t live life fully and they may become less giving. Others choose to spend all their money now and/or give all of it away and have nothing left for an inheritance for their family.
There is a balance to these two extremes. We are not to hoard money and possessions. We are to be generous to others, but we also are to save some for our children and grandchildren. A component of stewardship and getting serious about finances, is managing money wisely so that we can invest in the future of our children.
Have you ever thought about how your actions today could change your family history? Your money management can positively or negatively impact your child’s future financial life .
Benefits of leaving a material inheritance include:
- Providing for your family’s needs when you are gone
- Helping to break a generational cycle of poverty
- Providing an opportunity for your children to live more financially stable lives
- Providing money to help seed your family members’ dreams
- Providing an opportunity to further the Kingdom and impact the world through your children’s gifts and ministries even after you are gone
Leave your children an inheritance by teaching them about money. They will know how to live financially their whole lives, and steward any money you might leave them. Raise money smart, Biblically wise kids: teach them that God owns it all. Teach them to have a good work ethic, then to give, pay taxes, save, invest and lastly spend. Teach them humility and not to set their hearts on riches if they increase. Teach them to live with open hands for giving and receiving. Teach them that contentment is the antidote to greed and the love of money.
Leaving your children an inheritance includes teaching them about God and His Word. Help them to know how much they are loved and valued by God and by you. Teach them that they can make a difference in the world. Teach them not to be selfish, but holy and godly, etc.
We should work on providing a material inheritance for our children, but more importantly, we should guide them to the inheritance of the non-material things; the things that will enrich their lives here and lead them to an eternal inheritance. It is an old cliché, but it rings true: The best things in life cannot be bought with money. The best inheritance you can leave your children is eternal life in Christ and qualities that will help them live joyfully, peacefully, and generously.
As I think about leaving an inheritance for my kids, I realize that I have not done much in this area in the material sense. I know that I need to develop this area. My family over the generations have not modeled this by leaving much of a material inheritance, but I can see value it in. Leaving an inheritance would help Erin so much in her ministry when I am gone. My son is such a good steward of money. I know that he would continue to grow it, use it well, and be generous to others. My inheritance to them would not only benefit them, but those they help. It is a way for me to continue to impact the world even after I am gone.
I have concentrated more on leaving a spiritual legacy for my children. That will hopefully help them long after I am gone and that will lead them to their eternal inheritance. These scriptures and many more like them, remind of us that eternal inheritance:
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4b)
You have a chance to do something that outlasts you because of grace. We are not perfect in all we do, but we can be intentional. Our children are watching us, and more is caught than taught. Strive to leave BOTH a material inheritance and a spiritual and eternal inheritance.
Lou Ann & Her Family
