Some Thoughts on Biblical Estate Planning

Estate planning in the Bible:

Estate planning means planning for your death…

Estate planning allows you to manage your assets after you’re gone…

Stewardship does not end at death… SHOULD NOT

Hebrews 9:16–17 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

Dying “intestate” means: without a will

A deceased person WITH a will is known as the testator...

Another name for a will: The Last Will and Testament

Binding document of the testator (deceased) proclaiming legally what they want done with their assets…

Often times it says to pay all debts and funeral expenses with the assets remaining at their death… Jesus’ asset in His blood was to pay the cost for my sin (the debt; the substitutionary atonement; the earnest payment)

Testament: A solemn authentic instrument in writing God’s Word, by which a person Jesus Christ/God declares his will as to the disposal of his estate and effects after his death. What we do with what He has given us… eternal life…His Bible tells us what He wants done… Go ye into all the world, etc…This is otherwise called a will. A testament to be valid, must be made when the testator is of sound mind Jesus on the cross, and it must be subscribed, witnessed By many, including His resurrection by over 500 people… and published in such manner as the law prescribes. Published in blood…

Jesus had a will… that will declared how he wanted things done… no more sacrifice and atonement of sins through an animal, but through the blood of the testator (Jesus)

Jesus’ will included:

Priority (His desire) (what He wants done with what He left behind…)

Provision (see below)

Protection (see below)

Planning (Jesus set the record straight and declared His will for us)

Speaking to Jesus Christ dying and therein beginning the new testament… cannot be a new testament until the death of a testator (Jesus Christ).

Jesus’ death meant the beginning of something new… The New Testament…

In the New Testament and the death of Jesus, it brought:

Provision

A path to eternal life - His death took care of the sum that was required for all to be saved… He left behind a permanent solution for a problem. He provided what was needed with His death…

No more sacrificing of animals or different kinds of offerings to atone for sin. It was taken care of once for all.

His death and assets (blood) paid the price for my eternal life…

I think it’s responsible stewardship when we die, to continue caring for those we are responsible for upon our death.

Life insurance can help

Financial planning with assets

Plan for income, housing and living conditions

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you…” His death meant the preparation of housing and living conditions for the life He used His assets to pay for on the cross, which was His blood.

2. Security

Eternal security only exists because of His death on the cross… The death of the testator meant we can have security of our eternity…

3.

Even though a will is completed, it still passes through “probate”

The probate of a will or testament is the proving of its genuineness and validity, or the exhibition of the will to the proper officer, with the witnesses if necessary, and the process of determining its validity, and the registry of it, and such other proceedings as the laws prescribe, as preliminary to the execution of it by the executor.

When we die, we will stand before our Judge to declare if our name is written in the Lambs book of life or not…

A Trust:

The Trustor dies and leaves the assets to the Trustee to manage according to written documents with instructions…

We are the trustee for Jesus’ assets… He left us with His blood and a commission to fulfill… Are we following the orders of the trust/Bible in a way that would be pleasing to the Saviour. Are His assets (stewardship vs. ownership principal) being stewarded in a way He would be pleased with.

If the trustee is not found to be in compliance with the rules and requests of the trust, they can get in trouble. The Trustee is called a “fiduciary”, meaning the trustee will act in the best interest of the trust with the assets there with the intended purpose for how the trustor originally intended for them to be used.

Again, we are fiduciaries for God…

He left behind His blood for the beneficiaries which is “…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord…”

Are we utilizing His assets (His blood) in a manner that is in accordance with His Word?

*Understand my illustration can only go so far*

Practical side of estate planning:

Do you have a will or a trust?

Do you need one?

Do you have beneficiaries on your assets?

How will your assets pass?

How will my heirs (spouse, children, etc.) be cared for upon my passing?

Ephesians 5:23–29 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

When Jesus died for the church, He provided for the church upon His death… With (see everything about)

Care for your spouse as if you’re still here… How you would your own flesh…

VERSES ON PROVIDING FOR YOUR HEIRS:

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

The context is caring for widows. If you “provide not for your own” and especially of “those of his own house” than he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.

Infidel: one who disbelieves in the inspiration of Scriptures.

In other words: if you don’t do this, you are worse than someone who denies the inspiration of scripture.

Proverbs 27:23–27 “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: And doth

crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, And herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the maintenance for thy maidens.”

Inheritances in the Bible:

Abraham left his inheritance to Isaac. Genesis 25:5 “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.”

Isaac intended to bless Esau, but blessed Jacob instead. Genesis 27:28–29 “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, And the fatness of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be he that blesseth thee.”

The Prodigal son wasted his inheritance… Luke 15:11 “And he said, A certain man had two sons:”

The spiritual inheritance we receive in Christ. Ephesians 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

David’s inheritance to Solomon (prepped, planned, gave everything he needed) 1 Kings 2:1–4 “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.”