The Right Inheritance
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: 3-4)
My friend Jimmy grew up dirt poor in the small town of Tipton, Oklahoma. In Tipton in the 1950’s opportunities were hard to find. Food stamps and Medicaid did not exist yet, so when times got tough, Jimmy’s mom nearly begged people to provide food for them. The family chopped and pulled cotton just to keep their bellies full.
Lesser people might resent such a difficult childhood and be bitter. As a young boy, Jimmy was ashamed of his upbringing. Now that he is older and wiser, he embraces the lessons learned and is proud that he persevered. In Jimmy’s words, he is “proud to be ashamed.”
Through his trials, he learned the importance of working hard and caring for people you love.
Lessons Jimmy learned early in life helped him to achieve significant success in business. His wealth has allowed his children many of the luxuries he never had growing up:Nice vacations, a comfortable home, and the financial freedom to explore their passions.
Now that Jimmy’s kids are grown and out of the house, he and his wife are planning for their estate. How much should he leave his children? Should the inheritance come to them all at once or over time? How much should go directly to the grandkids? Or to their education? These are all important decisions that should not be taken lightly.
But as Jimmy has reflected and prayed more, he realized that the real inheritance is the wisdom and knowledge that he can pass down to them. Sure, he will leave his kids money, but is that really what will help them most? Material possessions will be worthless one day and Jimmy knows that his faith in Jesus is priceless. Jimmy now has a renewed vigor to share stories of his past and his faith with those he cares about most.
Let’s take a minute to reflect on the inheritance left to us by Jesus. He left us stories that speak truth and help us understand what is truly important in life. He left us the Holy Spirit to help guide us through each day. For those of us who believe and trust, he leaves us Heaven, where we can be with Him forever.
When designing your estate plan consider this: Are you going to take care of your family financially after you are gone, or are you going to give them the opportunity to learn to care for themselves? Are you able to do both?
Which will your children appreciate more? Knowledge and opportunity or large sums of money?
Lord Jesus, help me see past the numbers and leave the right inheritance to those who come after me. Help me trust in You and share Your truth with them now.
