Leave a Legacy That Outlives You | Planned Giving and Charitable Bequests

If you are involved in a ministry, you have the heart to see the mission grow to serve more in need. You have a desire to help the people you serve come to know the Lord and continue to mature in their faith.

You’ve developed a deeper appreciation and love for God’s work as He touches the lives of those impacted by the ministry. Words cannot express the love you have for those whom God loves.

Do you want your generous spirit to continue giving long after you are gone

“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”—Proverbs 11:25

When you are closely tied to a ministry, you’re moved as you reflect on the role it has played in your own personal faith journey. Because you’ve had compassion shown to you through the love of Christ, the Holy Spirit speaks to your soul, prompting you to show mercies and blessings to others. This is why you got involved in the first place!

You can’t help it—because you’ve been transformed!

Meditate on these verses for a moment… What is God saying to you through His Word?

• “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…”—Colossians 3:12
• “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32
• “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:32
• “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”—1 Peter 3:8-9

It is part of our assignment as Believers to grant compassion to others. You have covenant knowledge, which is a mystery that the rest of the world doesn’t understand.

Yes, most will agree that they find joy in “giving,” but you find joy, peace, and freedom in surrendering it all and bearing one another’s burdens.

The world doesn’t understand the aspects of God’s Kingdom, but you have “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).

I Want to Give More But…

…what if I need it later?

Maybe you want to give regularly, but the worry of your family falling on hard times and needing that extra money makes you hesitate.

…not every ministry has integrity or is honest in their dealings.

Maybe the most unfortunate reason people hesitate is that they’ve been burned by ministries in the past.

Nothing hurts worse than giving to, praying for, and sowing into a ministry near to your heart only to have it ripped out as you find out the deception that hid behind its walls. It’s no wonder the reports of charitable giving have decreased.

At the same time, some people have decided to make major contributions to God’s Kingdom work.

Why?

Because when a strong Believer finds a strong, solid, and faithful ministry, they know it’s a treasure and want to be a part of something that is Jesus’ hands and feet in this world.

I Want to Give More, but Later…

As uncomfortable as the subject of end-of-life plans are to discuss, there may be one clear answer that perfectly ties together your love and connection to the ministry, your desire to leave a legacy that outlives you, and your ability to embrace the joy of giving.

A will is something that needs to be discussed with your family, children, and spouse. It’s a sobering conversation but can simultaneously leave you with a feeling of peace, as you have to think about and decide what happens to everything you leave behind.

One common aspect of any will is leaving assets to your family, making sure they are cared for and that they receive the legacy you’ve established for them.

But there are some who either still want to give to the ministry OR are unable to pass their legacy on to their children.

There is undeniable hesitation regarding the topic of making a will and what to include, but it’s worth considering what legacy you want to leave to future generations after you have gone home to be with your Heavenly Father.

What Does the Bible Say About Managing Our Resources?

In the Parable of the Talents, God instructs us on being good stewards. Through the parable, Jesus explains the importance of applying God’s instruction to His money.

We must understand that…

1. It is not our wealth; it belongs to God. He entrusts us to be wise investors of His property.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”—James 1:17

2. Understanding God’s character sheds light on how He wants us to apply His principles. He invests and partners with us, and He wants us to do the same.

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”— Proverbs 16:7

The Lord gives us choices about how to manage His resources. When we align with His will and instruction, we are naturally blessed.

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”—John 15:10-11

How we handle His property is a way of worship and honor. We can’t take it with us after we pass from this earth, but we can ensure that it is going toward God’s Kingdom—bringing Heaven to earth.