Genesis 48:21 “And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”
Have you ever thought about what you will leave your kids? You may not have much to leave, but you leave nothing if everything you leave is something they can put their hands on. Ironically, inheritances that are left today do not bring the happiness and security for which are intended; often they do more harm and bring misery and heartache. I am not advocating that you leave nothing to your kids; what I am saying is if you leave only the material, you have done them a disservice.
In Genesis 48, Jacob was passing on an inheritance. What he was passing on was really a Who. Jacob was passing on God! Like Abraham and Isaac before him, he did not just pass along possessions; he passed on God. God was passed on to him, and now Jacob was passing God on to his son and grandsons. Jacob would not be around, but God Almighty would be-“But God shall be with you.”
What will you pass on, when you pass on? Better yet, what are you passing on in preparation for your passing on? My wife and I do not have great wealth to pass on to our kids, but we can and should pass on what we know about God and His Word. Whatever material possessions we would pass on will be worthless if we do not pass on the most important “thing”-God.
It is not wrong to plan and prepare an inheritance to leave your children. I think it is wise and right. But do not think for a moment that what you will pass on can ever replace who you pass on. We are sinners by nature, and having God as an inheritance is never a coincidence. Passing God on requires you to be relentless and active, every day and by design. You ought to pass God along to your kids, and with that goal comes purpose and direction with your home, marriage, and children right now. Whatever you might pass along, make sure you pass along God!