Our Stewardship of God’s Provision: Leaving A Godly Legacy with Dave Keesling
Christian stewardship is more than just financial management; it is a sacred responsibility to honor God with our resources. As believers, we are called to embrace biblical estate planning to ensure that our legacy reflects our faith and commitment to God’s Kingdom. Many Christians focus on tithing and generosity during their lifetime but overlook the significance of Christian estate planning—the final act of stewardship.
In this conversation with Dave Keesling, founder and executive vice president of PhilanthroCorp and author of Finding Peace in Perilous Times, we explore how Christian financial stewardship can shape a legacy that extends beyond a single lifetime. Through planned giving, legacy giving, and charitable giving, believers can impact ministry funding and ensure that their end-of-life planning aligns with God’s will. Let’s explore the critical topic of Christian stewardship, particularly focusing on biblical estate planning and leaving a legacy of faith.
Learn from Dave who shares his insights on how to approach estate planning from a biblical worldview. His experience and wisdom offer invaluable guidance for Christians seeking to steward their resources responsibly and leave a lasting impact for God’s kingdom. Join us as we delve into the principles of Christian financial stewardship and discover how to plan for eternity.
Biblical Estate Planning: A Call to Faithful Stewardship
Stewardship is more than just giving—it is a mindset that acknowledges God’s ownership over all things. Whether through tithing, Christian estate planning, or legacy giving, our financial choices should reflect our faith. The Bible is clear that everything we have belongs to God.
Christian estate planning is more than just about distributing assets; it’s a profound act of faith and stewardship. It’s about aligning our financial decisions with biblical principles and ensuring that our resources are used to further God’s kingdom. This involves careful consideration of how we can best provide for our loved ones while also supporting the ministries and causes we believe in. It’s about understanding that everything we have is a gift from God, and we are called to be faithful stewards of His provision. It is about faith-based philanthropy and ensuring that Christian giving continues after we leave this world. Estate planning for Christians should reflect our belief that wealth is a tool to glorify God.
Understanding Biblical Stewardship in Estate Planning
Biblical stewardship is rooted in the understanding that God is the owner of everything, and we are merely caretakers. Estate planning should be approached with this mindset, ensuring that our resources are used to further His Kingdom.
- Wills and trusts are essential tools that help ensure a smooth transfer of assets while upholding biblical values.
- Charitable trusts allow believers to leave a portion of their estate to ministries that align with their faith.
The Biblical Wealth Management
Biblical wealth management goes beyond mere financial planning; it’s about integrating faith into every financial decision. It emphasizes principles of generosity, tithing, and responsible stewardship. We must ask ourselves: How can we use our resources to make a difference in the world? How can we ensure that our wealth is used to honor God?
- One key aspect of biblical wealth management is understanding the difference between capital and income. God owns it all, and we are merely stewards. This perspective shifts our focus from accumulating wealth for our own sake to using it for God’s purposes.
- Another vital element is planning for the future. This includes not only providing for our families but also considering how we can support ministries and leave a legacy of faith.
Biblical wealth management reflects God’s will. It is about ensuring that our resources serve God’s Kingdom and not just our personal interests. As believers, we should consider:
- How can our charitable giving support long-term faith-based missions?
- Are we ensuring that our children understand the value of generational wealth stewardship?
Christian Giving As An Act Of Worship: Christian Financial Planning in Legacy Giving
Christian giving is more than an obligation—it is an act of worship. Whether through planned giving, charitable trusts, or ministry funding, believers should view their financial decisions as opportunities to glorify God.
- Tithing is an essential practice but should be complemented with long-term financial stewardship.
- Setting up a structured Christian estate plan ensures that wealth is distributed according to biblical stewardship principles.
Effective Christian financial planning is key to ensuring that assets are distributed in a way that reflects God’s principles. Many believers assume that planned giving is only for the wealthy, but even small acts of generosity can create a lasting impact.
Charitable Giving in Estate Planning: Extending Your Kingdom Impact
Generational wealth stewardship ensures that inheritance is handled wisely and does not become a stumbling block for future generations. Charitable giving in estate planning is a powerful way to extend your kingdom impact beyond your lifetime. It allows you to continue supporting the ministries you care about and make a lasting difference in the world. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you are not only being a good steward of your resources but also demonstrating your commitment to God’s work.
- One of the most significant benefits of charitable giving in estate planning is the ability to minimize tax burdens while maximizing your impact. Various charitable vehicles, such as charitable trusts, can be used to achieve this.
- Furthermore, including charitable giving in your estate plan allows you to leave a legacy of generosity and inspire future generations to give back.
Faith-Based Philanthropy: Aligning Your Giving with Your Values
Philanthropy in estate planning allows believers to support ministries, missions, and church growth. Faith-based philanthropy is about aligning your giving with your core values and beliefs. It’s about intentionally supporting the causes and ministries that resonate with your faith and making a difference in areas that are important to you. This could involve supporting local churches, Christian schools, missions organizations, or other faith-based initiatives.
- When engaging in faith-based philanthropy, it’s essential to research and carefully select the organizations you want to support. Ensure that they are financially responsible and aligned with your values.
- Consider involving your family in your philanthropic efforts. This can be a valuable way to instill in them the importance of generosity and giving back.
Leaving a Legacy of Faith: Impact God’s Kingdom Beyond Your Lifetime
Leaving a Christian legacy means being intentional about how wealth is passed down. A legacy of faith is about more than just passing on financial assets; it’s about passing on your values, beliefs, and love for God. It’s about ensuring that your faith continues to impact future generations. This involves intentional planning and communication. Legacy giving is an opportunity to support ministry funding and extend the impact of Christian stewardship far beyond an individual’s lifetime.
The Power of a Christian Legacy
A Christian legacy is a powerful testament to your faith and commitment to God. It’s a way to leave a lasting impact on your family, your community, and the world. By living a life of faith and intentionally planning your legacy, you can inspire others to follow in your footsteps and continue the work of God’s kingdom.
- One way to leave a Christian legacy is to write a testimony of your faith and include it in your will or trust. This can be a powerful way to share your faith with your loved ones and future generations.
- Another way to leave a legacy is to involve your family in your estate planning process and discuss your values and beliefs with them. This can help ensure that your legacy is carried on for generations to come.
Ministry Giving and Planned Giving for Eternal Impact
Ministry giving is a powerful way to ensure that churches, missionaries, and faith-based organizations continue to thrive. Many Christians do not realize that their charitable giving in estate planning can fund ministry growth in ways that exceed their lifetime contributions.
- Allocating a portion of assets to ministry funding supports the continued spread of the Gospel.
- Setting up wills and trusts ensures that gifts are managed responsibly and distributed according to biblical principles.
End-of-Life Planning with a Biblical Perspective
End-of-life planning with a biblical perspective involves more than just making practical arrangements; it’s about preparing your heart and soul for eternity. It’s about reflecting on your life, seeking forgiveness, and expressing your love for God and your loved ones. This can be a time of deep reflection and spiritual growth.
- One important aspect of end-of-life planning is to ensure that your spiritual needs are met. This could involve spending time in prayer, reading scripture, or meeting with a pastor or spiritual advisor.
- It’s also essential to communicate your wishes to your loved ones and make sure they are aware of your end-of-life preferences.
Overcoming Common Barriers to Christian Estate Planning
Many believers delay end-of-life planning due to discomfort or misconceptions. However, ignoring biblical estate planning can lead to missed opportunities to honor God with financial resources.
- Procrastination often prevents Christians from setting up a proper estate plan.
- Lack of awareness about faith-based philanthropy leads to missed opportunities for generosity.
Christian stewardship extends beyond our lifetime, impacting future generations and the growth of God’s Kingdom. Through biblical estate planning, legacy giving, and charitable giving, we can ensure that our resources reflect God’s will. By embracing Christian financial planning and faith-based philanthropy, believers can leave a godly legacy that continues to spread the Gospel for years to come. It’s time to approach estate planning for Christians with wisdom, faithfulness, and a heart for God’s mission.
Biblical estate planning is a crucial aspect of Christian stewardship. It’s about aligning our financial decisions with our faith and ensuring that our resources are used to further God’s kingdom. By incorporating principles of generosity, charitable giving, and faith-based philanthropy into our estate plans, we can leave a lasting legacy of faith and inspire future generations to follow in our footsteps. Remember, it’s not just about what we leave behind, but also about the impact we make during our lifetime. Let us strive to be faithful stewards of God’s provision and live lives that honor Him. By engaging in Christian estate planning, we can ensure that our stewardship extends beyond our earthly existence and continues to bless others for generations to come.
For more resources on Christian estate planning, visit EEM.org and explore how you can steward God’s provision effectively.
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