Expecting an Inheritance? Some Things to Consider…
If you expect to receive an inheritance, you may already be wondering what it could mean for your future. But before focusing on how much you might receive or how you might use it, consider a more important question: How can you respond in a way that honors your family and pleases the Lord?
Jesus Talked About Inheritances
In Luke 12, a man asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. Jesus declined to arbitrate the dispute and warned the crowd to guard against greed. He goes on to remind His disciples that God cares for the birds and the lilies, and they can trust Him to care for their needs. He warns them about storing up treasures on earth, and exhorts them rather to be rich toward God, to seek His Kingdom, not store up treasures on earth, but to sell their possessions, and give to the poor, which will become a treasure in heaven, where it will be safe and never fade away.
In addition, other Scriptures provide further guidance. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes to us from God, and John 3:27 says that a man can only receive what is given him from heaven. Hebrews 13:5 says we are to keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have because God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. 1 Timothy 6:8 exhorts us to be content if we have food and clothing.
Let Care Come Before Calculation
At a time like this, important questions need to be addressed: How will your parents be cared for? Will they need to move? What will happen to their current home and possessions? Can they manage their financial matters? These are good questions to ask, but beware if a possible inheritance begins to occupy more of your attention than it should. When that happens, we risk viewing people we love through the lens of what they may someday leave behind.
Rather than asking, “How much will be left for me?” ask, “How can I honor and serve my parents well?” That may mean helping with appointments, arranging care, providing transportation, or simply being present. It can also mean setting healthy boundaries, recognizing what you can realistically provide, and asking others to share the responsibility. An inheritance may come later, but right now, the priority is helping your parents navigate this season with dignity and support.
Hold Expectations Loosely
Treating an expected inheritance as part of your own financial plan before it is received can create both practical and relational trouble. A parent’s resources are first of all theirs and may be needed for housing, health care, daily support, taxes, debts, or other expenses. Even a careful estate plan cannot make every future cost predictable.
A better question is not, “What will I receive?” but “How can I serve faithfully in this season?” That shift does not make financial planning unimportant. It puts planning in its proper place. If an inheritance eventually comes, receive it with gratitude and patience. Before making major decisions, take time to understand the assets, consider taxes or other obligations, seek appropriate professional guidance, and decide how the resources can support family responsibilities, long-term goals, and generosity.
Questions to Ask Before an Inheritance Arrives
What support do your parents need now? Begin with their priorities for daily life, care, housing, medical decisions, and the people they want involved. Ask about their wishes rather than leading with questions about net worth.
Is your family prepared to share care responsibilities? Clarify who can help with visits, transportation, meals, appointments, paperwork, or communication. Revisit the plan as needs change.
Are the essential documents clear and current? A will or trust, powers of attorney, health care directives, and beneficiary designations can help a family understand and carry out a parent’s wishes. An estate-planning attorney can explain which documents fit their circumstances.
How will you respond if an inheritance does or doesn’t come? If an inheritance comes to you, choose gratitude over entitlement, patience over pressure, and wise counsel over quick financial decisions. Receive those resources as a gift from God, a stewardship rather than a measure of your worth or your parents’ love. If an inheritance does not come, resist resentment or comparison. Your family relationships, contentment, and faithfulness are worth more than an expected financial gift.
Faith & Finance Perspective
Jesus’ warning in Luke 12 invites us to notice when the possibility of gain begins to overshadow our trust in God or care for others. Faithful stewardship begins before any assets change hands. It is expressed in the way we honor family, communicate honestly, plan wisely, and remain content with what God has entrusted to us today.
If an inheritance comes, receive it with gratitude and consider how God may be calling you to steward it wisely. Whether that means strengthening your financial foundation, caring for your family, or practicing generosity, the goal is to use what God has entrusted to you with purpose while honoring the legacy your parents have passed on.
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” - 1 Timothy 5:4, NIV
This week, ask your parents or other family members what support would be most helpful now. Let care, not calculation, lead the conversation.
