Honoring the Gift of Inheritance

Inheritance. For many of us, this represents the largest single sum of money that will come our way. And as a result, it represents the largest opportunity for faithful stewardship – or for wasteful mismanagement.

Whether earned or received as a gift, all the resources in our possession ultimately belong to God. So God calls us to manage those resources for His glory, as well as for our ultimate benefit.

But with inheritance, many things get in the way. The emotion of a relationship lost, the memories (positive and not-so-positive) that the loss brings up. Maybe it’s guilt over receiving something we didn’t deserve. Or maybe it’s resentment that we didn’t receive what we thought we would. Family dynamics often complicate the situation even further.

Podcast host James Lenhoff shows us the importance of understanding and processing the emotions that come with inheritance, taking a step back and refraining from hasty decisions, and maintaining a heart of gratitude. Balancing stewardship principles, a desire to honor the deceased, and our God-given personal and family priorities takes prayer and wisdom.