067: A Biblical Look at Inheritance

Are you hoping to receive an inheritance?

Are you putting pressure on yourself to leave an inheritance to your "children's children?"

Let's look at both; hoping to receive and planning to leave.

 

In This Episode, We Look At:

Hoping to receive an inheritance.

If you have family who leave assets behind, those should pass to beneficiaries as opposed to being tied up in probate.

If you are good at managing your current income, then you will likely manage an inheritance well. If you are not responsible with the income you currently manage—chances are you are in for an extra dose of stress!

Unearned riches tend to magnify one's character—to the negative as well as the positive.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If your hope is in the inheritance, then your hope is misplaced

It is not the answer to your financial needs.

Scripture clearly teaches the importance of labor.

Proverbs 12:27

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit:

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Stressing to leave an inheritance

Many Christians reference Proverbs 13:22 concerning inheritance.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children:

And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, and believe that if they are to be a good man, then they need to save, avoid medical costs in their older years so that they can leave their grandchildren an inheritance

Is that what the verse means?

Not in context to the original audience who understood property ownership and farming at that time…

It meant to keep the land in the family so that they may continue to farm and therefore make a living for future generations.

As in Ezra 9:12

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

 It does not command to pass on unearned wealth to grandchildren.

When we pull a verse out without its historical context, we get different meanings, i.e. "Remove not the ancient landmark" in Proverbs 22:28.

Beginning in verse 22; Solomon is warning against robbing the poor and avoiding debts.

The landmark marked the boundary lines of land ownership. To move the landmark was to steal land because you moved the property line!

 

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

If you are the recipient of an inheritance, remember that you have just received an increase and honor the Lord first (Prov 3:9-10). In doing so, you set yourself up to enjoy His blessings and promises.

Seek godly counsel if you are not accustomed to handling larger amounts of money.

 

Share Your Thoughts:

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

Podcast on Facebook

Tim Twitter

Troy Twitter

Are you hoping to receive an inheritance?

Are you putting pressure on yourself to leave an inheritance to your "children's children?"

Let's look at both; hoping to receive and planning to leave.

 

In This Episode, We Look At:

Hoping to receive an inheritance.

If you have family who leave assets behind, those should pass to beneficiaries as opposed to being tied up in probate.

If you are good at managing your current income, then you will likely manage an inheritance well. If you are not responsible with the income you currently manage—chances are you are in for an extra dose of stress!

Unearned riches tend to magnify one's character—to the negative as well as the positive.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If your hope is in the inheritance, then your hope is misplaced

It is not the answer to your financial needs.

Scripture clearly teaches the importance of labor.

Proverbs 12:27

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Proverbs 14:23

In all labour there is profit:

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Stressing to leave an inheritance

Many Christians reference Proverbs 13:22 concerning inheritance.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children:

And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, and believe that if they are to be a good man, then they need to save, avoid medical costs in their older years so that they can leave their grandchildren an inheritance

Is that what the verse means?

Not in context to the original audience who understood property ownership and farming at that time…

It meant to keep the land in the family so that they may continue to farm and therefore make a living for future generations.

As in Ezra 9:12

Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

 It does not command to pass on unearned wealth to grandchildren.

When we pull a verse out without its historical context, we get different meanings, i.e. "Remove not the ancient landmark" in Proverbs 22:28.

Beginning in verse 22; Solomon is warning against robbing the poor and avoiding debts.

The landmark marked the boundary lines of land ownership. To move the landmark was to steal land because you moved the property line!

 

Improve Your Faith and Finances:

If you are the recipient of an inheritance, remember that you have just received an increase and honor the Lord first (Prov 3:9-10). In doing so, you set yourself up to enjoy His blessings and promises.

Seek godly counsel if you are not accustomed to handling larger amounts of money.

 

Share Your Thoughts:

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

Podcast on Facebook

Tim Twitter

Troy Twitter