How will you finish your race?
Psalm 24:1 tells us that the Earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it. Everything we have belongs to him: our relationships, our material possessions, our time. We are stewards of all that we possess. As a steward we are to care for and use all that we have for God’s glory and purpose on the earth. We are accountable for the decisions and choices we make concerning these matters.
Making sure that your estate is in order is one way to be a good steward of all that God has given you. Everyday people die with out having their estate in order (having no will or trust). As a result their estate falls into the hands of the state court (probate process) which decides what will happen with the estate of the deceased. More often than not, the estate is divided up among the inheritors not in away that the deceased would have wanted. In some cases the government ends up coming out on top once the estate tax is applied (45%), which leaves very little left to divide among the inheritors or charities. In some instances the deceased does not have any inheritors and the government ends up with the entire estate.
Since we are stewards of all that God has given us, we should be wise in how we use all that pertains to us not only now but after we are gone. An estate plan can be drafted in such away that you would be able to leave an inheritance for your descendants, charities/ organizations of your choice, and reduce the amount of assets the government would tax. Your attorney will be able to help you with these matters.
