Jonathan Edwards once said, “True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.”
That’s an important reminder, especially when we think about money and inheritance. All of us have a natural desire to provide for the people we love. Whether it’s our children, grandchildren, or others God has entrusted to our care, we want to leave them in a better position than we were.
That’s a good desire. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
But Scripture encourages us to think about inheritance as more than simply transferring money or assets. What we pass on also includes wisdom, character, faith, and an understanding of what it means to steward what God provides. Because wealth without wisdom can become more of a burden than a blessing.
Proverbs 20:21 warns, “An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” The goal, then, isn’t simply to transfer assets. It’s to prepare the next steward.
Our heirs aren’t merely future recipients. They will become managers of resources that ultimately belong to God. And that changes the way we think about legacy.
Inheritance Is About More Than Money
Throughout Scripture, inheritance is connected to both identity and responsibility.
In the Old Testament, land wasn’t simply property. It was connected to family, covenant, and the responsibility to faithfully steward what God had entrusted to His people. Families didn’t merely receive something. They were entrusted with something.
The same principle applies to us. If we pass on wealth without preparing the heart, we may leave the next generation with resources they aren’t prepared to steward wisely. But when we invest in their spiritual formation, teach them biblical principles of stewardship, and point them toward God as their ultimate Provider, wealth can remain what it was always meant to be: a tool.
So how can we prepare the next steward?
1. Model Faithful Stewardship
Long before the next generation receives anything from you, they are learning from you.
More is often caught than taught. The way you spend, save, give, and respond to financial uncertainty tells a story about what you believe.
Do your financial decisions reveal trust in God or anxiety about having enough? Do they reflect generosity or a constant desire to accumulate more? Do they demonstrate surrender to God or a need to maintain control?
None of us will model stewardship perfectly. But our everyday decisions give those who come after us opportunities to see that money is a gift to manage, not a source of identity or security.
Your financial life is already teaching a lesson. The question is what lesson it is teaching.
2. Talk About Money and Faith
Another important step is simply talking about it.
Many families avoid conversations about money altogether. Parents may never explain why they give, how they make financial decisions, or what principles shape their approach to wealth. Then, when assets eventually change hands, the next generation receives the resources without understanding the convictions behind them.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 describes faith being passed from one generation to another through the ordinary rhythms of life:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…”
That kind of discipleship includes the way we think about money. Tell your children why generosity matters to you. Explain how you make spending decisions. Share lessons you’ve learned from financial mistakes. Talk about why contentment matters and why money can never provide the security only God can give.
Most importantly, help them understand that money is not the goal. Faithfulness is.
3. Train Before You Transfer
Good stewardship is usually learned gradually. Psalm 78 describes one generation telling the next “the glorious deeds of the Lord” so that future generations would “set their hope in God.”
That kind of formation happens over time. Preparing the next steward means giving people opportunities to practice stewardship before significant wealth ever arrives.
For a young child, that might mean learning how to manage an allowance. For a teenager, it could mean participating in conversations about family generosity. For an adult child, it might mean talking openly about investing, giving, budgeting, or the responsibilities that could come with a future inheritance.
The goal isn’t simply to prepare someone to receive money. It’s to prepare them to manage it wisely.
4. Trust God With the Outcome
This may be the hardest part. You can teach. You can model. You can communicate your values and provide opportunities to practice stewardship.
But you cannot control another person’s heart. Eventually, we have to release what we have taught and entrust the outcome to God. Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
That includes your resources. It includes your estate. And ultimately, it includes the people you love. You are not the owner of what you possess. You are its temporary steward. One day, someone else may become the steward of those resources.
Our responsibility is to prepare them faithfully and then trust God with what comes next.
The Greatest Inheritance
Perhaps the most important legacy question isn’t, “How much should I leave behind?” A better question may be, “How well am I preparing the person who will receive it?”
Because the greatest inheritance you can leave isn’t found in an investment account, a house, or an estate plan.
It’s a heart that treasures God above wealth. It’s an understanding that everything we possess ultimately belongs to Him. And it’s a life shaped by the conviction: God owns it all. I am His steward, and everything He entrusts to me is meant to be used faithfully for His purposes.
That is a legacy worth passing to your children—and your children’s children.
If you’d like help thinking through how to do that intentionally, our newest FaithFi Field Guide, How Do I Prepare the Next Steward?, launches in just two weeks.
You can pre-order your copy today at FaithFi.com/Shop. Bulk-order discounts are also available for churches and small groups.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
- I’m a registered nurse nearing retirement and worry that a lawsuit could put my retirement accounts at risk. How can I protect those assets while still planning to provide for my wife and family?
- I already have a will and beneficiary designations. Do I still need a trust to avoid probate? Since my husband passed away, should I update my will and the deed to our home, and would I need an attorney to do that?
- My home is paid off, and I’d like to use some of the equity for debt consolidation and home improvements. Would a HELOC, home equity loan, or new mortgage make the most sense?
- I use fingerprint authentication to access my financial accounts. How secure is that? And how can I tell whether credit-report alerts claiming to be from companies like TransUnion are legitimate or phishing attempts?
Resources Mentioned:
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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