Inheritance

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village Voice 

“Inheritance”

            Why do we worry so much about what we have?  We work very hard so we can buy things for ourselves, unless you have young children in the house!  If that’s the case, it seems the parents put the children’s desires ahead of their own.  But just wait until you become “empty-nesters” and the buying spree begins!  If that’s the way it is in your house, it’s okay.  But in some families, it’s not okay.  It is just more for the children to squabble over after your death.

            I’ve seen a bumper sticker on large motor homes that says, “I’m spending my children’s inheritance.”  This attitude may save the children a lot of attorney’s fees.  But shouldn’t we all think this way?

            Some of you may have had parents who grew up in the Great Depression.  Those times were truly hard.  People went wherever there was employment.  My paternal grandfather traveled from central Oklahoma to west Texas to work in the oil fields.  Great projects were built during this time, such as the Hoover Dam.  As my father explained, “If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat!”  Inheritance wasn’t much on the mind of those Depression babies.

            However, there have even been folks who have tried to take their fortunes with them!  I’ve seen photos of people who have been buried in their collector cars, in accordance with their Last Will and Testament.  There was even a picture circulating on the internet a few years ago of an old “biker” who was buried in a plexi-glass cube sitting proudly on his Harley Davidson.  I assure you, exhuming the bodies of people like these will show you can’t take it with you, no matter how hard you try.

            When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he assured them if they were guided by the Spirit of God, then they were children of God.  They could call out, “Abba, Father” and He would hear them.  Romans 8:16 & 17 says, “It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

            Paul was telling the people in Rome they were children of the living God, and therefore heirs of His.  And not only heirs, but joint-heirs with Jesus.  Paul is saying all the riches in heaven belong to the heirs, and we will share them together with our brother, Jesus Christ.

            I look around at the bounty God has blessed me with here on this earth.  I have great friends, a wonderful church, a loving wife, and food on the table every time I sit to eat.  Some people cannot say this, and that is sad.  But even those who have very little will share in the same amount as those who have accumulated vast wealth in this life when we get to heaven.

            Frankly, I’m ready to leave all this stuff behind.  The wealth of this life will pale in comparison to the riches Christ has ready for us when we go to the place He has built especially for us!