Exhortation – Bequests

(At the recent meeting of the "Tidings" committee, it was noted that the financial situation of the magazine is very tenuous. In other parts of the ecclesial world, many Christadelphian organizations operate from the interest off endowment funds that have been established mainly from bequests. With the matter having been raised, Bro. Norm Luff offered to write on this subject.)

Estate planning, or the process by which we determine what will hap­pen to our assets when we die, is a task many of us don’t like to think about and tend to put off. We may be young and do not see the necessity of estate planning right now or we may realize it should be done but, since the matter has a low priority, we keep putting it off. In addition, some of us keep put­ting it off because we don’t like to contemplate the day when we “go the way of all the earth.”1 Whatever our current situation, the inevitability of death2 should encourage us to consider how best to thoughtfully apportion and bequeath our possessions and wealth. After all, we know that in death we have no need of them.3

Possible beneficiaries

In our own case, to whom do we intend to bequeath our wealth and possessions? Here are a few options we could consider:

  • Our spouse, if still living.
  • Our children.
  • A deserving or favorite family mem­ber.
  • A needy family.
  • Our ecclesia.
  • A favorite charity.
  • The Bible Mission.
  • A nursing home.
  • A Christadelphian magazine.
  • The Isolation League.
  • A Christadelphian Bible School.

We could also consider placing the assets in a trust under the care of trustees who will execute our desires. An endowment to a specific organization could also be a good choice.

Scriptural Guidelines

In reflecting on this matter, there are a number of Bible guidelines we should keep in mind.

Our wealth belongs to God

First, when planning our will it is important to remember to whom “our” wealth and possessions really belong. They belong to God.4 Even the spirit which keeps us alive returns to God who gave it.5  Our Creator and Sustainer has provided everything for us; He gives us all we need and, for most of us, more than we need. Most of us have and enjoy an abundance of this world’s goods. Furthermore, he has made provision for us to have the gift of eternal life in return for faithful stewardship in this life.6 It is thus within this spiritual context that our decisions should be made.

We should also remember that God expects that those who benefit from His generosity show their appreciation by providing Him with an increase.7 One area this can be done is in regard to the material possessions God has given us, things which we can control through our will, where we can give back what He gave us with interest.

On loan to us

A second principle to ponder in­volves the fact Israelites did not own the land they occupied.8 They were stewards of God’s land having to use it according to His rules. “A sabbath of solemn rest” had to be given to the land every seven years.9  People who lost their land were to have it given back to them at the jubilee year.10 No one person was to be deprived of the land that was in the care of his forefathers. Thus, the land would never pass out of the family. The family still had control and could offer the first fruits of their inheritance to God in humble recognition of His ownership and their trusteeship.11 The same principle applies to us. We are but strangers and sojourners here; in this era, we are not owners but trustees of all we have from God. And we should keep what is God’s within His family, a principle suggested in the laws of Israel.

Give priority to the needs of our community

Are there ways to serve God even after our death? If we have children who share our love for the Lord Jesus, then they could be an excellent choice for us. They would be able to con­tinue supporting and serving using our bequest. But suppose our children are not in the Truth, what then? If they are needy we certainly should not ig­nore their needs. But after their needs are met, what do we do with any remaining assets?

There are a number of brotherhood organizations that are in financial need.12The Tidings magazine, for ex­ample, has run a growing deficit. Subscription income has never covered the existing expenses. Only the continu­ous generosity of successive editors has allowed it to continue to be pub­lished. Your donation and/or bequest would help to put the magazine on a better financial footing.

The Bible Mission organizations have almost endless places to use the funds they are given. Most ecclesias could expand their outreach effort or provide more suitable meeting places if we provided more funds for the work. It is unlikely the welfare and benevolent funds in our ecclesias are adequately funded. We could focus on the youth in our community by subsidizing a youth weekend or by providing financial assistance for a Bible School, Kid’s Camp or Youth Conference. Virtually every organization within the brotherhood could benefit with additional funds with which they could serve the community and the Lord more effectively. We do not need to go outside the community to find useful causes to which we can contribute.

We need to remember that what we have is on loan to us from God, and we would do well to keep such re­sources working within His family.

The available mechanisms

Of course, tax deductible gifts can be made while we are still alive. In regard to assets left when we die, we must make our wills specific in amount and recipient. We may even want to discuss our desire to help with a member of the organization to see how best to bequeath either possessions or funds.

A specific example to note is the Vibert Fund administered by the Ha­milton (Ewen Rd.), ONT ecclesia. Bro. Percy and Sis. Olive Vibert were siblings who never married. They left their entire estate under the control of the ecclesia for the purpose of preach­ing the Truth. Many ecclesias and in­dividuals in the brotherhood have been aided in God’s work because of their spiritual foresight in estate planning.

Estate planning is something we can all participate in regardless of our situation. Should not we give what we have back to God in some way? Should we not show our thankfulness for the privilege of using God’s re­sources during our lifetime? If the best answer is Yes! then we urge a careful consideration of the foregoing principles, remembering always that each one must make up his own mind how best to be a cheerful giver.13

  1. 1 Kings 2:2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth.”
  2. Psalms 89:49 “What man can live and never see death?”
  3. Job 1:21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.” 1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”
  4. ‘Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 50:10,12 “The cattle on a thousand hills are mine. ..the world is mine and the fullness thereof”
  5. ‘Ecclesiastes 12:7 “And the dust re­turns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
  6. Romans 2:6-7 “For he will render to every man according to his words: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immor­tality, he will give eternal life.” Ro­mans 6:23 “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  7. Matthew 25:27 “You ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have re­ceived what was my own with inter­est.”
  8. Leviticus 25:28 “In the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property.”
  9. Leviticus 25:4 “But in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD.”
  10. Leviticus 25.10 “It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.”
  11. I Kings 21:3 “But Naboth said to Ahab, God forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” Deuteronomy 26:10 “And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, 0 LORD, hast given me.”
  12. II Corinthians 8:14 “Your abun­dance at the present time should supply their want, that there may be equality.”
  13. II Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”