Being Rich Without Being Rich
Let’s start with a cheeky story about a father planning for the future.
“Dear Spike, I have been unable to sleep since I forced my daughter to break off her engagement to you. Will you forgive and forget? I was too sensitive about your mohawk, tattoo, and pierced nose. I now realize motorcycles aren’t that dangerous, and I really should not have reacted the way I did to the fact that you have never had a job. I am sure, too, that some other very nice people live under the bridge in the park.
Sure, my daughter is only 17 years old and wants to marry you instead of going to Harvard on a full scholarship, but after all, you can’t learn everything about life from books. I sometimes forget how backward I can be. I was wrong. I was a fool. I have now come to my senses, and you have my blessing to marry my daughter. Sincerely, your future father-in-law. P.S. Congratulations on winning the Powerball jackpot lottery!” Oh, the creativity of some people!
Now there’s an example of planning for your future! However, even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat! While I don’t condone the future father-in-law’s motives, I appreciate his awareness in planning for the future. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” How does that happen? It happens with planning. You need to be intentional.
When you are in your 40s, 50s, and 60s, you should be starting to realize that the time is now for a future later. Just ask the multitudes who haven’t planned for their future; the only thing worse than planning for the future is wishing you had. It takes time and effort to make tough decisions that could affect you for the rest of your life, but some pain now will produce gain later.
Do you realize that there are many different types of inheritances that you can plan for right now? You don’t have to be rich to leave an inheritance. Let’s consider four types of inheritance (among many others): financial inheritance (which I will address in an upcoming article), family inheritance, memory inheritance, and spiritual inheritance. So, prepare for three inheritances you might not have considered before in this article.
Why not be intentional in planning for your spiritual inheritance or legacy? Give Jesus a chance, because Jesus is giving you a chance. If you don’t go to church, give the church a chance. If you have never considered the Bible, give it a chance. If you’re not into the churchy stuff, read the book of Proverbs in the Message version of the Bible. There’s some great wisdom in there. Then read about Jesus in the Gospels. There’s gold in “that thar” Book!
I remember sharing Jesus with a man in the Here’s Life campaign in Phoenix years ago. He wasn’t a Christian at that time. He asked me many good questions about Jesus, Christianity, and the church. As we kept talking, spiritual things suddenly started making sense to him. As they say in New Zealand, the penny started dropping. Suddenly, the man accepted Jesus and his Savior as I talked to him. Now he and his whole family are Christian, solid citizens, and very Bible conscious. The family is a well-known family at their church. His children and grandchildren would also be Christians. A good man or woman leaves a family inheritance to their children’s children.
Next, consider a family inheritance. There are so many quotes about the family. Here are a few to consider. “You don’t choose your family. They are a gift to you, as you are to them.” “The love of a family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” “I don’t think anyone has a normal family.” “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's lives.” “A family is a risky venture, because the greater the love, the greater the loss. That's the trade-off. But I'll take it all.”
There’s one more quote I’d like to mention. “You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth.” Children carry on after you’re carried off. Make your investment now in your children to get a return later. Spend some time this weekend on home improvement; improve your attitude toward your family. And to those who had a terrible childhood or broken marriage, remember that you can start your legacy now with your family. It’s got to start somewhere: Why not with you?
Now, let’s consider giving a memory inheritance. I like these, and they're easy to implement if you understand them. I know our children will never forget summer vacations at the OW ranch, which my parents owned, or family time in Pinetop, Arizona, between Christmas and New Year's. They will never forget our ministry trips (sometimes being a pastor has advantages) to Kenya, Uganda, France, New Zealand, Argentina, England, Austria, and Germany. Our grandchildren will never forget going to San Diego at Mission Beach in the summer. Our grandchildren’s memories will live for the next three generations.
You can be rich without being rich. Take advantage of the time you have left to plan for your spiritual, family, and memory, as well as your financial future. Who knows? Spiritual, family, and memory inheritances are often more valuable than financial. You might leave a positive non-financial inheritance that continues for generations.
The time is now for their future later.
Ed Delph/May 26, 2025/CCC