All Bible verses in this article are English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
Exploring what the Bible says about inheritance offers important insights into the ethics of managing finances and the function of estate planning as a form of financial stewardship. Although the Bible provides advice on money, inheritance, and the duty to provide for your family, it does not give clear-cut directions on how much to leave your beneficiaries and who should benefit from your money.
Instead, it offers guidelines emphasizing the value of prudent money management, caring for your descendants, and the lasting importance of managing resources according to God’s teachings. Understanding these scripture-based concepts can reveal the broader principles for estate planning as a financial steward.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about inheritances and how the Bible explains our duties to God and our families as Christians.
What Does the Bible Say About Family Inheritance?
Several Bible verses focus on inheritance and its significance for stewardship, family responsibility, and the distribution of wealth. Estate planning is about the transferring of stewardship. You should pass along wisdom before passing along wealth. An inheritance is nice, but wisdom is better. That’s why an inheritance without wisdom is fragile. Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 says, “Wisdom along with an inheritance is good and an advantage to those who see the sun. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessor.”
We also see that planning is important in the Bible. For example, Proverbs 13:16 (NLT) states, “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t – and even brag about their foolishness.” So what’s best for the Kingdom and your heirs? Giving during your lifetime and not squandering your wealth.
A few other central passages from the Bible are listed below:
- Proverbs 13:22: A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
- Proverbs 19:14: House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 5:8: But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Proverbs 27:23-24: Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
These verses highlight the idea of a virtuous person leaving a legacy for future generations. An essential component of successful stewardship is fulfilling your duty to provide for your family—whether it be through inheritance or other means of financial support—which leads to a faithful legacy. We should attempt to leave our loved ones in the best position possible by planning and not putting that burden on them in a difficult time.
However, wisdom should always come before an inheritance. Pass along the valuable skills of Godly financial stewardship first. A significant piece of such a legacy is the recognition that one’s material belongings belong to God and not to you. Overall, these verses underscore the importance of responsible stewardship of your wealth and possessions—and why it’s significant to leave an inheritance for your family.
Where in the Bible Does It Say Leaving an Inheritance to Your Children?
The Bible doesn’t explicitly say, “You must leave an inheritance for your children,” but it has several verses which emphasize the value of leaving something to your descendants. These verses can be read as a call to gift financial resources to your children as an inheritance. Some Biblical scriptures that reference this topic include:
- Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” This passage emphasizes the importance of passing on one’s wealth to the next generation and how to focus on the righteousness God has entrusted in you.
- 1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” While not addressing inheritance directly, this verse highlights the value of providing for your family in every capacity—especially as it relates to faithful stewardship.
- Psalm 112:2: “His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” The Bible explains that the descendants of the righteous, dutiful steward will be blessed, which could be financial or spiritual. You should focus primarily on faith and wisdom, but it can be followed by passing along financial stewardship.
These scriptures state that leaving an inheritance to your children and grandchildren is a virtuous and honorable act to carry out. That’s because of the significance God places on caring for your family and the generations to come. These verses advise believers to prioritize the well-being of their families when making financial decisions and to include the welfare of descendants in their stewardship responsibilities.
What are some challenges we face in these tough situations?
- Help heirs financially without harming them.
- Try to minimize family discord due to sibling rivalry or another complication.
- We are not typically the best versions of ourselves when under stress, so focus on your family’s emotional wellbeing.
- Manage expectations for all heirs, so they know what to anticipate.
- Provide for your spouse, so that they may continue Kingdom work in your absence.
- Providing for the Kingdom throughout your life to bring glory to God.
- Desire to finish strong and give everything to the Kingdom of God.
- Explore the legal and tax complexities associated with estate plans.
Most importantly: We don’t control the timing of our passing, so we need to be prepared!
Where in the Bible Does It Talk About an Inheritance Blessing?
Several passages in the Bible highlight the idea of passing on prosperity from one generation to the next. One such example is found in Genesis 17:7, where God says to Abraham, “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” This verse illustrates the idea that Abraham’s offspring will inherit God’s covenant blessing, placing an emphasis on the spiritual and relational aspects of inheritance.
Also, receiving blessings for being obedient is outlined in Deuteronomy 28:2, stating “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.” This passage reinforces the idea of inheritance blessings by implying that following God’s instructions can result in benefits for future generations.
Overall, these verses illustrate the biblical principle that individuals who walk by faith and obedience will be blessed both now and in the future.
What Are the Rules of Inheritance in the Bible?
In the Bible, the rules of inheritance are outlined in various passages, primarily in the Old Testament. In their historical context, these rules were considered fair and God-honoring for the Israelite culture at the time. The Bible lays us a few basic guidelines for passing on assets:
- Primogeniture: The firstborn son often received a double portion of the inheritance.
- Equal Inheritance for Daughters: Daughters could inherit if there were no sons.
- Land Stewardship: Ancestral land was meant to stay within the family, tribe, and clan.
- Redemption of Property: Provision for redeeming sold ancestral land.
- Levirate Marriage: The brother was expected to marry the widow to provide an heir.
- Provisions for Immigrants: Provisions for foreigners and sojourners to share in the inheritance.
These rules of inheritance guaranteed fair property distribution in the Israelite community and stressed family and community recognition. They also showed that God owned the land and the Israelites were caretakers of it. While we don’t follow these exact rules anymore, these rules show us that money has always mattered to God, and He has provided us with opportunities to leave a legacy and express generosity.
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven and See Your Heirs Thrive
As a Christian financial steward, estate planning balances financial wisdom with biblical principles to ensure that your wealth continues to bless future generations. You can count on Cornerstone Financial Advisory to assist you in becoming a faithful steward of God’s blessings, so you can provide an obedient financial and spiritual inheritance in the Bible.
Cornerstone Financial Advisory aims to support you in recognizing how God can use your financial success to honor him through responsible stewardship. To help you be a good steward of the money God has given you, we provide investing opportunities that follow biblical teachings and Christian values.
If you want to learn more about estate planning and how you can be a good financial steward, our Let’s Plan to Thrive program will help you deep-dive into the Bible and what God says about your finances.
