Inheritance. It’s a word we are all familiar with; maybe you’re hoping to receive a family heirloom, vacation home, or a windfall of money as part of an inheritance. Maybe you are waiting . . . waiting for that rich uncle to die. Ok, that last part was meant to be funny. The movie, “Greedy” with Michael J. Fox and Kirk Douglas comes to mind. It’s a cute PG-13 comedy about a family who attempts to stake their claims in their wealthy uncle’s will... only the uncle is not dead yet! And if you’re a Jimmy Durante fan, you’ll appreciate the “Inka Dinka Doo” scene.
The word inheritance shows up in the Bible more than 200 times. To quote the past president of Cedarville University, Dr. William Brown; “Legal inheritance refers to actual property or goods received after a family member's death. While Jewish inheritance customs were linked to family blood lines, Greek and Roman laws also provided for the disposition of family possessions through the adoption of an heir. The Scriptures transform the concept of inheritance to include the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises from God. In the theological sense, to inherit means to "receive an irrevocable gift” with an emphasis on the special relationship between the benefactor and the recipients. The concept of the believer's inheritance highlights the dignity of the family relationship of the believer in Christ. No higher position or greater wealth can an individual acquire than to become an heir of God through faith in Christ.”
Friends, in today’s reading in Ephesians, Paul reminds us that WE HAVE AN INHERITANCE. We are children of God; this gives us the right to expect an inheritance. What are you going to do with this inheritance? I beg of you, do not squander it, p a s s i t o n. I am passing on what Pastor John Scally wrote, “Ultimately, the spiritual inheritance that the next generation is receiving from you will lead them to passionately pursue God. That is our goal. We are not looking for a phase, but a lifestyle. What are you reproducing in your kids? What spiritual inheritance are you leaving? What does their relationship to God look like…as a result of your priorities?”
God has given to us an amazing inheritance that we must pass on.
The word inheritance shows up in the Bible more than 200 times. To quote the past president of Cedarville University, Dr. William Brown; “Legal inheritance refers to actual property or goods received after a family member's death. While Jewish inheritance customs were linked to family blood lines, Greek and Roman laws also provided for the disposition of family possessions through the adoption of an heir. The Scriptures transform the concept of inheritance to include the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises from God. In the theological sense, to inherit means to "receive an irrevocable gift” with an emphasis on the special relationship between the benefactor and the recipients. The concept of the believer's inheritance highlights the dignity of the family relationship of the believer in Christ. No higher position or greater wealth can an individual acquire than to become an heir of God through faith in Christ.”
Friends, in today’s reading in Ephesians, Paul reminds us that WE HAVE AN INHERITANCE. We are children of God; this gives us the right to expect an inheritance. What are you going to do with this inheritance? I beg of you, do not squander it, p a s s i t o n. I am passing on what Pastor John Scally wrote, “Ultimately, the spiritual inheritance that the next generation is receiving from you will lead them to passionately pursue God. That is our goal. We are not looking for a phase, but a lifestyle. What are you reproducing in your kids? What spiritual inheritance are you leaving? What does their relationship to God look like…as a result of your priorities?”
God has given to us an amazing inheritance that we must pass on.