Maybe you know someone who has fought for an inheritance. It amazes me (and I hope I’m not stepping on any toes here) the number of people who feel it’s their right to receive a piece of the pie even without having helped the newly deceased.
I’ve recently learned of a family with two daughters and two sons. Their mother needs 24-hour care, and they don’t want to put her in a nursing home. One daughter is married. The two sons and the other daughter are not so any of them could move in with their mom. The daughter has been renting her whole adult life and has said that she’ll move in, but she would like to have the house when their mom passes away. The sons are furious. They were counting on that inheritance even though they’ve done nothing, not even visited (much) their mom during her time of need. If the mom went into a nursing home, she would most likely have to sell her house and liquefy her assets, so they would receive nothing from that scenario.
The daughter is sacrificing much (willingly), but the sons aren’t even willing to make any time for their mother. Yet they feel they “deserve” their inheritance. Honestly, if I were in the same situation, I’d try to work something out among the siblings, but then again, I’m not a child who doesn’t care for her parents. I love my parents and know full well all of the sacrifices they’ve made for me over my lifetime. I pray that I’ve acted in a loving and supportive way toward them.
Everyone’s situation is different, and I probably have enough scenarios for an entire week of posts, which is sad, but unfortunately, it also reflects the hearts of our world today.
We do have an inheritance that we will receive, no matter the circumstances, but still, one which we don’t deserve, and that is the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:11-14 NKJV
Father, we pray for families facing similar dilemmas. Please open their eyes and hearts so they may work through this process without causing division among themselves. Father, we also pray for those going through the journey that leads to death. May they pass easily from this world into the next. We pray for their salvation so they may spend eternity in Your loving presence. We pray these things in Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.