Should we leave inheritance?
Question 11038
The question of whether Christians should leave an inheritance is one that touches on stewardship, family responsibility, generosity, and the purpose of wealth. Scripture has direct things to say about passing on resources to the next generation, and the principles involved are worth understanding clearly.
Inheritance as a Biblical Principle
The Bible speaks positively about the principle of inheritance throughout. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). The Old Testament’s entire land allocation system was built on inheritance. The land given to each tribe and family was to be passed down through generations, and the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) existed partly to ensure that families were not permanently dispossessed of their inherited land. The inheritance was not merely financial; it represented continuity, identity, and God’s provision for future generations.
The concern of the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11) demonstrates how seriously inheritance was taken. When their father died without sons, they appealed to Moses for the right to inherit his portion, and God confirmed that their claim was just. The narrative takes for granted that passing on an inheritance is a good and righteous thing, and that preventing it without cause is an injustice to be corrected.
Provision Beyond One’s Own Lifetime
Paul’s principle that a person who does not provide for their household has “denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8) can reasonably be understood to extend beyond the provider’s own lifetime. Where a spouse, children, or dependants will need financial support after the provider’s death, making provision for that need is an act of love and responsibility, not a lack of trust in God. The Proverbs 31 woman’s household is described in terms that suggest careful, long-term management of resources, and the fruit of her work extends beyond the immediate present.
There is also a spiritual dimension to inheritance. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 describes the responsibility to pass on faith, instruction, and the knowledge of God to the next generation. Material inheritance, while important, is secondary to the spiritual legacy that believing parents are called to leave. The greatest inheritance any Christian can give their children is the knowledge of God and the example of a life lived in obedience to Him. A family that inherits wealth but not faith has received the lesser gift.
Generosity and Balance
The desire to leave an inheritance must be held in tension with the call to generosity in the present. A person who hoards everything for the next generation while neglecting the needs of others, refusing to give to the Lord’s work, and holding resources tightly out of concern for the future has allowed provision to become accumulation. The rich fool of Luke 12 planned to store everything for himself and was called to account that very night. The balance is between genuine provision for family and faithful generosity throughout one’s lifetime.
It is also worth considering that an inheritance given to children who are not equipped to handle it wisely may do more harm than good. Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 reflects on this honestly: “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?” Leaving resources is a good thing; ensuring that the recipients have been given the character and wisdom to manage those resources well is arguably the more important task.
So, now what?
Scripture affirms that leaving an inheritance is a good and responsible thing to do. It reflects the biblical principles of provision, stewardship, and care for the next generation. But it is not the highest priority, and it should never come at the expense of present faithfulness, generous giving, or the more important work of passing on faith and godly character. The Christian who provides for their family’s future while living generously in the present, and who invests at least as much in their children’s spiritual formation as in their financial security, is handling this well.
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22