Let us begin with the word plan - in the common meaning God does not have a plan or blueprint laid out for us to follow.  God offers an aim to every situation and that aim is novel, works toward compassion and justice, increase harmony and instensity.  We work with that and in some sense surprise God with the outcomes.

Now the second point of accumulting money and possessions - Jesus is pretty clear that is not the meaning of life- he rejects the one with the most toys wins.

We are called to share.  Now the pragmatics is we need to have something to offer. We have created a world where things cost.  Now the question is whether we are a wage slave or work to live not live to work.

Now if we do end with some money to leave behind our values ought to determine what our will would look like - so if we are generous in gifts now and ot charties our will ought to exhibit that value. 

I am bumping this up but has Pan said it all?

Do your utmost to leave your children a sustainable and more just and joy-filled world than the one you inherited. By the time your will's read, it's far too, too late.

Amen

This is almost a mote question for my husband and me.  We will have little to give.  Depending upon how long we live and how our health holds out - we may, or may not have a house.  Right now we hope to hang onto our house and live in it for as long as possible.   Our son lives out of the country - I know he hopes that he will have a home to return to.  We have spoken to our daughter and she is in agreement that he should have the house  (I keep meaning to get something down on paper so that he will have an opportunity to buy out her share, or something).  

But in all likelihood, one or both of us will reach a stage when we can no longer maintain our home.  If we have to move into an apartment, I would like it to be one that caters to seniors.  And we will have to sell our house to be able to afford to pay for accommodation.    If one or both of us requires nursing home care - hopefully not for another 20 years or so - proceeds from the sale of the house won't last long.

Oh dear - I guess I really should be doing some financial planning even though we don't have much cash and no investments - sooner rather than later.

But supposing we do have a bit of cash at the time of our death - I would like to leave something to my church - even if it is just enough to cover my pledge for the rest of the year.   I'd like to leave something to my children - with a growing family my daughter has expenses - and my son may need a reserve to rely on if and when he moves back to Canada.  I'd like to make a meaningful gift to my grandchildren.  I know they love me and that they will have warm memories of the times we've spent together and what we have done for them so far - but a little remembrance might be nice.

What are the theological implications?   All that we have belongs to God.  But I believe that I have a God-given responsibility to my children.  I brought them into the world.  I've raised and nourished them.  I still try to be a support to them.  With my death I don't want to leave them with nothing.  It won't be great wealth but if should be a bit more than enough to cover the funeral expenses.  (Please, kids, keep it simple.)

Both my family and my wife's family believe in giving the next generation a "leg up".  We've benefitted from that generousity, and we intend to carry that generousity forward to our kid(s).  There is no theological basis for this, as neither set of parents are or were religious.  We simply regard what we have as belonging to the family, not just the parents.  The challenge will be to raise our kids not to be spoiled brats.  My wife and I knew enough of those to make it a high priority.

This is a very challenging topic; it makes up a great deal of my job, actually. How does one communicate the importance of financial planning to the 'employees' (even that word is wrong) of the church?

Seeler: your situation is very common.  Please take your own advice and do see a financial planner. They have strategies and solutions to meet all those wishes that you list.  Primarily, work with someone you Trust, because this is a very sensitive area.

And if it looks to good to be true, get a second or thrid opinion!

It is not 'anti religious' to be careful about your future, and to be generous to your family.  As the saying goes, God helps those that help themselves.  (but that's too long a name for a newsletter :)

There was a point, about 25 years ago, at which we took things to heart, sold what we had, the lot,  and gave it to the poor. it was a wonderfully liberating thing to do. So far, we have got "stuff" again, and try not to accumulate more, but we still don't have anything worth writing a will about. It is a burden lifted... and I mean that.