Friday: Further Thought ~ Giving Back
Further Thought:
Ellen G. White wrote two chapters on this important topic of distribution of our assets. See “To (Aged and) Wealthy Parents,” in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, Pages 116-130, and “Wills and Legacies,” in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, Pages 476-485.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
There is also a section that discusses estate planning in Counsels on Stewardship, Pages 323-335. Ellen G. White also wrote: “That which many propose to defer until they are about to die, if they were Christians indeed they would do while they have a strong hold on life. They would devote themselves and their property to God, and, while acting as His stewards, they would have the satisfaction of doing their duty. By becoming their own executors, they could meet the claims of God themselves, instead of shifting the responsibility upon others.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 480.
What does she mean by “becoming their own executors”? In a typical will, the one making the will appoints an executor to distribute the assets following his death in harmony with his wishes as expressed in the will. By becoming your own executor, you simply distribute your assets yourself while you are living. By doing so, you will have the satisfaction of seeing the results and of knowing that you are handling God’s entrusted talents properly.
For the Christian, the second coming of Christ is the “Blessed Hope.” We all have imagined how awesome it will be to see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven. We are eager to hear the words, “Well done.” But what if we should be laid to our rest before Jesus returns? If we have followed His revealed will, we can have the satisfaction now of seeing the work go forward because of our efforts, knowing that because of our estate plan, the work will continue after we are gone.
Discussion Questions:
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The lessons this week have been directed very much towards disposing of our wealth when we die. I think that it is a good idea to think these issues through and make wise decisions based on our relationship with God. However, I don't have a lot of accumulated wealth to dispose of and, as I have said previously, with a bit of luck, I may get through to the end of my life without costing anybody else too much.
However, I am retired and nobody wants a 77-year-old computer scientist to work for them anymore. I am too young to vegetate and in spite of Carmel's big long list of "Things that must get done today!" I have time that I can bequeath. This week's lesson has brought home to me the importance of planning our retirement time so that it is a useful witness to the love of Jesus in our hearts. Retirement is not one long extended holiday. It is a time to give back to the family (tutoring grandkids in maths and science), and to the community (involvement in U3A and environmental groups). I do go to church, but I am a seat-warmer there. I got the message that I was too old and that the church needs younger people to fulfil the roles I had there. My church is essentially a youth church anyhow. That no longer bothers me - there are other ways to give back.
I am reminded of the story of a couple of educators who left their homeland and worked in a foreign country for the rest of their lives, and eventually died there. Five years after they died, someone who had known them visited the area where they had the school. The buildings were derelict; their only monument was an unkept tombstone. And then he found that throughout the country there were teachers, doctors, clerks, carpenters, shopkeepers, and so on who had been taught by these folk. That was their legacy.
What are we leaving behind? A monument, or a small ripple of Christian love spreading through the people we have known and interacted with?
Getting through life without costing anybody else is a worthy accomplishment, particularly when one has served the church their whole career. Many people after working their whole lives and have not accumulate wealth, end up dependent on children, family or others.
Dear Maurice – so very appreciative of your closing remarks to your post! “What are we leaving behind"? It is my wholehearted desire and prayer to be remembered as a person readily engaged in caring and sharing rather than by any material things I may leave behind. I deeply appreciate a quiet, settled, loving, caring person's presence.
Besides the discussion about how I must apply my assets when I die, this week's lesson may also point out to what I do with my assets, or talents so to speak, today.
It is rational to plan ahead, but maybe still more vital is to be aware of the "presents" I have now. A balanced consciousness about the sense of property may be helped by the true fact that today could be my last day. Not to spend all I have at once, but to keep myself aware that I don't take anything from here to eternity, just my character.
Thus, the questions that remain are,
What will I do with the riches I've been given today?
How can I show my appreciation and thankfulness to this God of Love Who gives me everything?
Can I at least be merry with the simple blessing of breathing?
I am happy to find that Ellen White encouraged everyone to ‘become their own executor, meeting the claims of God themselves..’; just what my mom decided to do. Her readiness to make ‘little’ sufficient enough for herself and her family’s household and share the ‘surplus’ became the example for my own life.
After all, 'giving' is the disposition of the heart followed through with actions. Each life unfolds differently, but each believer can rest assured that the rules governing the kingdom of heaven here on earth and its resulting blessings when applied by faith are experienced by all citizens equally.