Faith & Finance - Preparing the Next Steward

<p>Jonathan Edwards once said, <i>“True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.”</i> That insight cuts against the grain of how many of us think about inheritance.</p> <p>We often focus on leaving behind money, assets, or property. But Scripture calls us to think bigger. What we pass on isn’t just wealth—it’s wisdom, character, and a legacy of faithfulness.</p> <p>So the real question isn’t simply, <i>"What will I leave behind?</i>" It’s, “<i>Who am I preparing to receive it?”</i></p> <h3>The Tension: Wealth Without Wisdom</h3> <p>There’s a natural desire in all of us to provide for the people we love—children, grandchildren, or others God has entrusted to our care. And that desire is good.</p> <p>Proverbs 13:22 reminds us: <i>“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”</i></p> <p>But Scripture also gives us a warning. Proverbs 20:21 says, <i>“An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”</i></p> <p>Why? Because when wealth is passed on without wisdom, it can become more of a burden than a blessing. The goal isn’t just to transfer assets—it’s to transfer stewardship.</p> <p>Your heirs are not merely recipients. They are future managers of what ultimately belongs to God. And that changes everything.</p> <h3>Inheritance Is About Responsibility</h3> <p>Throughout Scripture, inheritance is deeply tied to identity and responsibility.</p> <p>In the Old Testament, land wasn’t just property—it was connected to covenant, calling, and faithfulness. Families didn’t simply receive something; they were entrusted with something. The same is true today.</p> <p>If we pass on wealth without preparing the heart, we risk creating confusion—or even harm. But if we invest in spiritual formation, in a biblical understanding of stewardship, and in trust in God as the true Provider, then what we leave behind becomes a tool for Kingdom impact.</p> <h3>How to Prepare the Next Steward</h3> <p><strong>1. Model Faithful Stewardship</strong></p> <p>More is caught than taught. The way you handle money right now—how you spend, save, give, and trust God—is shaping the next generation, whether you realize it or not.</p> <p>Your financial life is telling a story:</p> <ul> <li>Is it a story of fear or faith?</li> <li>Of accumulation or generosity?</li> <li>Of control or surrender?</li> </ul> <p>Long before your children or grandchildren receive anything from you, they are learning from you.</p> <p><strong>2. Communicate Intentionally</strong></p> <p>One of the biggest mistakes families make is avoiding conversations about money, values, and legacy. But silence creates confusion.</p> <p>Deuteronomy 6:6–7 encourages us to talk about God’s ways throughout everyday life. That includes how we think about money.</p> <p>Talk about:</p> <ul> <li>Why you give</li> <li>How you make financial decisions</li> <li>What you hope they carry forward</li> </ul> <p>Help them see that money isn’t the goal—it’s a tool.</p> <p><strong>3. Train, Don’t Just Transfer</strong></p> <p>Psalm 78 calls us to tell the next generation the works of God so that they will <i>“set their hope in God.”</i></p> <p>Faithfulness is learned over time. That means giving the next generation opportunities to practice stewardship now—not someday. It might look like:</p> <ul> <li>Helping a child budget their allowance</li> <li>Inviting a teenager into family giving decisions</li> <li>Walking alongside an adult child as they navigate financial choices</li> </ul> <p>We’re not just preparing them to receive—we’re preparing them to steward.</p> <p><strong>4. Trust God With the Outcome</strong></p> <p>This is where it becomes deeply personal. </p> <p>Even with the best preparation, you can’t control what someone else will do. At some point, you release what you’ve taught, modeled, and invested—and entrust it to God. Psalm 24:1 reminds us: <i>“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”</i></p> <p>That incl