Giving Gifts That Matter
Throughout history, humanity has been driven by the desire to leave the next generation better off than the last. Great men and women of past eras have worked diligently to lay the groundwork for everything from skyscrapers to space travel to the innovative technologies that connect us and give us access to virtually limitless information. It took time, patience, perseverance, focus, and the compounding work of many generations to reach these lofty goals.
When you reach the later stages of life, you suddenly find yourself inundated with pressing financial questions: Who will receive my possessions when I pass away? How much will I even have to pass down? Should my estate be split evenly among my heirs? And what about the charitable causes I hold dear?
These issues cannot be resolved overnight. Differing family scenarios and other unique circumstances can complicate these decisions. Yet, in the midst of it all, it is our God-appointed duty to find the best ways to steward the resources He has entrusted to us. If we, like the previous generations, want to be intentional about creating the best possible opportunities for those who follow, our most important question should be, “How do I leave behind gifts that matter?”
The Danger of Wealth
The Bible tells us that wealth creates a tremendous burden on people. 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
When leaving behind wealth for the next generation, we must consider whether that wealth will help or hinder them on their journey toward financial responsibility. Releasing large sums to younger adult children who may not have yet learned how to manage their finances can foster a kid-in-a-candy-store view of money that can lead to their financial demise. In addition, many people—sometimes even our own loved ones—struggle with addiction. In those cases, a gift from an inheritance could fuel the fire of their addiction, allowing them greater access to things that harm them.
Gifts should benefit those who receive them. If a gift could be harmful, it should be avoided. When leaving behind a legacy that honors God, we must protect our loved ones against the dangers that come from wealth.
Wolves In Sheep's Clothing
Another issue that can arise during estate planning is deciding what to give away to charity. Sadly, many charities in the world seek to take advantage of your resources and use them irresponsibly. There are endless examples of charities that have violated their donors’ intent by misappropriating gifts toward exorbitant executive bonuses, corporate gatherings in exotic locations, and other lavish lifestyle perks.
Many ministries and charities begin with good and honest intentions, directing their supporters' money towards the important causes for which the donations are intended. But over time, the temptation of wealth can lure the organization away from its original vision until it is almost unrecognizable.
Fortunately, there are some useful tools out there to help givers gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of the charities and ministries they support. Charity Watch and Ministry Watch independently ensure that organizations are responsible and accountable regarding the donations they receive, and can help you decide which charities and ministries will best steward any money you leave for them.
By God’s grace, over the past 140 years, The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) has stayed true to its All of Jesus for All the World vision by responsibly stewarding the resources donors generously give. More than 80 percent of its international workers are in places with little or no access to the gospel. In addition, 84 percent of gifts made to the Great Commission Fund go directly to The Alliance’s gospel-advancing ministries in the United States and throughout the world, with the other 16 percent being used to steward those funds for maximum impact. With continued passion for its mission, The C&MA has avoided the pitfalls that lead to irresponsibility with its donations.
Your Gifts Matter
Ultimately, you should plan your estate with prayerful intentionality because your gifts matter. Whether you have thousands or millions of dollars, one car or ten, a modest home or a sprawling mansion, what you leave behind can have a lasting—even eternal—impact.
The money and possessions God has entrusted to you are, simply put, tools. He offers them as gifts and expects you to steward them well. Regardless of your stage of life or the size of your estate, a critical part of starting your stewardship journey is to create a will that distributes your resources when you pass away in a manner that honors Him. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans do not currently have an estate plan in place. If you find yourself in that segment of the population, Orchard Alliance offers a free online will planning service to help you get started. If you need help along the way, Orchard's Gift and Estate Design team can help ensure that your estate is designed in a way that you feel best honors the Lord and accounts for any challenging scenarios that may arise.
Faith and Finance Perspective
God loves His children and often blesses us with gifts we don’t deserve. Once we recognize that He owns it all, including our estate, we honor Him with those resources not only by giving good gifts but also by withholding gifts to people or organizations that may squander them. We must ensure our own faithfulness while being confident of the faithfulness of those who receive what we entrust to them. As we acknowledge God’s ownership and honor His plans with our finances, we hitch our legacy to His, extending His transcendent love to a world in desperate need of His welcoming embrace.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. —Deuteronomy 6:6-7