LASTING HERITAGE (5)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The different stages of preparation of our will
a) As we embark on writing an instructive will for our families, there will undoubtedly be several stages in its development over the years.
i) The first stage involves a basic document which provides for the care of our children and contains directives for the transfer of any property. This avoids the possibility of our wives and children becoming disadvantaged in the claiming of all rightful inheritance.
ii) Subsequently additions to our will may give greater clarity and direction to the scriptural functions of inheritance. Once the basic content of our will is composed, almost any lawyer is able to adapt its to legal terms and make sure that it contains the necessary items. One of the unexpected benefits of preparing a detailed will is the potential disagreement can be anticipated and worked out ahead of time.
2. Other matters to include in our will
a) We must know the purpose of our will; it is to give instruction to our children when we have gone to be with the Lord, so that we preserve and transmit our faith, character, wisdom, money, possessions and experience which God has given us for the well-being and benefits of the descendants after us.
i) Our life purpose and the vision we have for all our descendants.
@1. Joseph gave instruction and vision for the future before he died.
#1) 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:24-26 NIV)
@2. David gave instructions to Solomon before he died.
#1) 1When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” (1 Kings 2:1-9 NIV)
ii) Our family records with the valuable lessons learnt, rich scriptural insights and significant family history, which will give our descendants an understanding of their roots and heritage and the direction God wants them to go.
iii) Specific instructions of how we want our wives, children and our elderly parent (if they are still dependent) to be taken cared of - their basic necessities, food, shelter, clothings etc., e.g. Jesus arranged for his mother's care at the cross.
@1. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27 NIV)
@2. 4 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)
iv) Our goals and vision for our grandchildren and provision (financial) made for their spiritual growth, education and the training in a marketable skill.
v) Our provision for specific needs, any of our descendants or their spouse to the 3rd or 4th generation became orphaned or widowed.
vi) Specific instructions on certain ministries or projects which we have started and how we want it to continue.
vii) How we want our descendants to continue in ministering to the poor, orphans and widows.
3. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we will make a will (if not done so) for our wives and children so as to avoid any possibility of our wives and children becoming disadvantaged in claiming of all rightful inheritance.
The End ...
1. The different stages of preparation of our willa) As we embark on writing an instructive will for our families, there will undoubtedly be several stages in its development over the years.
i) The first stage involves a basic document which provides for the care of our children and contains directives for the transfer of any property. This avoids the possibility of our wives and children becoming disadvantaged in the claiming of all rightful inheritance.
ii) Subsequently additions to our will may give greater clarity and direction to the scriptural functions of inheritance. Once the basic content of our will is composed, almost any lawyer is able to adapt its to legal terms and make sure that it contains the necessary items. One of the unexpected benefits of preparing a detailed will is the potential disagreement can be anticipated and worked out ahead of time.
2. Other matters to include in our will
a) We must know the purpose of our will; it is to give instruction to our children when we have gone to be with the Lord, so that we preserve and transmit our faith, character, wisdom, money, possessions and experience which God has given us for the well-being and benefits of the descendants after us.
i) Our life purpose and the vision we have for all our descendants.
@1. Joseph gave instruction and vision for the future before he died.
#1) 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:24-26 NIV)
@2. David gave instructions to Solomon before he died.
#1) 1When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” (1 Kings 2:1-9 NIV)
ii) Our family records with the valuable lessons learnt, rich scriptural insights and significant family history, which will give our descendants an understanding of their roots and heritage and the direction God wants them to go.
iii) Specific instructions of how we want our wives, children and our elderly parent (if they are still dependent) to be taken cared of - their basic necessities, food, shelter, clothings etc., e.g. Jesus arranged for his mother's care at the cross.
@1. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27 NIV)
@2. 4 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)
iv) Our goals and vision for our grandchildren and provision (financial) made for their spiritual growth, education and the training in a marketable skill.
v) Our provision for specific needs, any of our descendants or their spouse to the 3rd or 4th generation became orphaned or widowed.
vi) Specific instructions on certain ministries or projects which we have started and how we want it to continue.
vii) How we want our descendants to continue in ministering to the poor, orphans and widows.
3. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we will make a will (if not done so) for our wives and children so as to avoid any possibility of our wives and children becoming disadvantaged in claiming of all rightful inheritance.
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