Legacies, Part 3

Conventional wisdom says money doesn't grow on trees, but I know differently. I've seen money trees!

From time to time as our church celebrated a special occasion for a special person, the group would give the person a card, a few small presents and a money tree. Perhaps the money tree was the most practical of all, since it could take the form of anything the receiver needed.

We've been talking in the past couple broadcasts about practical ways to honor God by leaving legacies that last for eternity. We saw that your legacy may be the children or adults you've influenced by teaching. It may be the memories you've made with others as you've encouraged them somehow. It may be the mentoring of younger adults by using your experience to help them develop in directions God wants them to head.

Part of extending your influence is planning your estate in such a way that needs are cared for and God is glorified. This is not just for the wealthy. We all need to do it, and have the opportunity to do it in a way that clearly honors God. Let's talk about the practical aspects of such planning today.

Imagine that all your assets, including your home, your life insurance and your china closet, were converted into cash and put on a money tree. How do you want it distributed when you die? Who would get how much?

All the assets God has temporarily entrusted to you must someday be released to others. God will remain the Owner, as He is now. The nagging question you have, as manager of His assets, is who should get what.

The Bible gives us two guidelines for determining this distribution. One is love. God set the example personally: "For God so loved...that He gave..." (John 3:16). His example holds whether our giving is to Him or to those He loves so much (see Matthew 27:37-40).

Another guideline for giving is need. Any friends or family members who have been dependent on you during your life may need continuing support when you head home to heaven.

1 Timothy 5:8 says, "If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." God's Word here shows the importance of providing for such dependents as minor children, aged parents, spouses and ministry interests.

Note that (a) this verse does not talk about making your dependents rich; it talks about simply providing for them; (b) it is silent about those who have grown up and left the household. The critical difference is whether or not they are dependent on you.

For some people, a third reason to give is tradition. They distribute part or all their assets to a person because they feel some vague sense of obligation. Do you sense that pull as you consider your own estate planning?

As Christians, we need to examine such a "reason" carefully, prayerfully and critically. God clearly declared His motivation for giving to us: love.

He is just as clear about what He wants our motivation to be: love (1 Corinthians 13). In fact, He scorns gifts given to Him for tradition's sake (Matthew 15:3-9). If our giving plan disregards God's desires for our stewardship of His assets, or misstates God's desires for our stewardship of His assets, of what value is all our sophisticated planning?

Have you completed your planning in this regard? If you don't have a Will or a Revocable Living Trust, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that your government loves you and has a wonderful plan for your estate.

The bad news is that the government's plan may be worlds away from yours and God's. It may deny some who need you and it may give God's assets to others whose lifestyle you had no intention of supporting.

I encourage you to get your plan into place. It will be your last chance to extend your Godly influence. Why give that privilege to people you don't even know?

"Sure," you say. "But what do I do?" Here are some suggestions that may help you whether you are initiating or reviewing your estate plan:

• List your loved ones and dependent people. Remember to include your ministry interests, because of your love for them and the God they serve and because of their dependence upon you.
• List your property, that is, your transferable assets. Include their approximate market value and then convert them to cash in your mind and put that cash onto a money tree.
• Ask your heavenly Father how He would want that tree given away if you were to die today.

Here is a nine-point checklist you may use as you make or review your plans:

• Have you reviewed your estate arrangements within the past three years? Are there any substantial changes in people, property or plans?
• Is your plan built on the recognition that God owns it all? Does it reflect your management of His assets?
• Do you have a durable power of attorney to manage property in case you become incompetent prior to death?
• Have you provided for guardianship and property management for minor children?
• Is the ownership of your property coordinated with your estate documents? (This is often where problems arise.).
• Have you included a letter of instructions for the distribution of household goods and personal effects?
• Have you done everything possible to avoid interpersonal conflicts among family members?
• Have you considered the benefits of using a Revocable Living Trust?
• Are you now completely satisfied with your existing estate plan?

I've given you many questions to answer today, and I know it's more than you can copy as you listen to the radio. If you wish to get notes on today's message, contact us and request today's broadcast. We'll be happy to send it to you in written form.

Now let me close by moving from the details to the big picture. My parents' legacy was not money. They had none, and if it were there it would have been second-best at best. What they modeled for us was far more valuable: their love for God, their consistent walk with God and their delight in serving God.

Again, what will your legacy be?

© 2007 John Garmo. If you would be interested in using this article, please contact us at Info@MissionToChildren.org.