As one gets older, occasionally thoughts cross the mind as to when one departs this scene, and the resultant family matters that may ensue.

Most people would have made a WILL, otherwise ones estate is what they call intestate, and the law then takes its course (refer bottom of this article)

But I have been hearing about families and disputes over estates and wills ... and court actions ... and legal costs (exorbitant usually) ... and acrimony … and all of the associated fallout – most of it not very pleasant at all.

This must be an often repeated story down through the ages, for as long as mankind has been around !

Luke 12 : 13 - 15 makes interesting reading, where Jesus was almost caught up in this scenario in his own day and age …

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

So the age-old problem has arisen yet again – an agrieved son who felt short-changed by the inheritance split, seeking a more favourable portion, and looking for someone to take his side - maybe his brother would listen to this unbiased itinerant but wise teacher, who happened to be in the vicinity.

Maybe the parent had died suddenly, or as a result of an accident, and left no will at all … as can and does happen.

Or maybe the elder son had got all the inheritance as in the story of the prodigal son Luke 15:31 It is quite hard to split up just the one property or family farm, and elder sons traditionally get to carry on a business or property.

Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord Proverbs 19:14

An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning wll not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21

Whatever the scenario, one son was agrieved, and Jesus was in the area, and the son seized the opportunity to get help.

But Jesus would not be drawn from his appointed mission on earth, and instead issued a warning against the main driving principle of the contemporary Western world - MATERIALISM and its associated plagues … covetousness, greed and avarice.

Why is it I wonder, that these topics so rarely make sermon material in this day and age ? Covetousness is warned against about 25 times in Scripture. Probably for the simple reason that as Jesus observed, the religious leaders of his day were themselves covetous - Luke 16:14 and from observation not much has changed within the present religious system today ! To God, covetousness is paramount to idolatary Ephesisan 5:5 Collosians 3:5 and serving both God and Mammon (the Syrian god of riches) is not possible according to Jesus Matthew 6:24

( At this point, I should recall hearing a corn-cob farmer making the observation years ago - “Don't worry much about provision for kids – if they are any good they will make it OK without it, and if they are no good, they will only waste it )

On reflection, I personally could identify exactly with the son in this account – having precisely the same situation of feeling shortchanged over an inheritance. However, as a result of a truly born again experience and later reading this passage, I never pursued a more equitable split or mentioned it to any one until now, lest of all my elder brother (now deceased)

But now, in later years, with a grown family and grand-children, what to do for the best for them and for after my demise ?

And the reason for this writing is simply to record my answer to such, which may be helpful to others in some degree !

My answer to our situation was simply this … to make a split absolutely EQUAL … irrespective of gender, age, place in the family, talents, abilities, diligence, industry etc etc That way arguments would be hopefully minimised (but probably not avoided alltogether )

Now, some could say that this could penalise the industrious ! But to proportion 'worth' is virtually impossible. All our children hold an equal part and place in the family and in our hearts, irrespective ! And isn't this how God sees us all ?

And to make some provision for the grandchildren, again absolutely equally.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, Proverbs 13:22

So, after further thought, and to try and minimise fallout after the event, let me tell you what I did. I made another decision … to hold a family meeting.

Now, it takes a bit of effort to get our entire family together, apart from birthdays or seasonal events, but eventually it happened.

So, at this meeting, I went through what was in the wills of my wife and I, and a brief financial summary. (Aha - put that gun down !)

And then came the most important bit … to me anyways … I said

“ IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE JUST HEARD …. SAY IT NOW. Not to each other later ! It's my will, this is what I have done, any comments or disagreements … SAY IT TO ME … NOW “

For me anyways, it was a step towards minimising potential fallout later on.

Time will tell if it worked or not !

To me K I S S is an asset KEEP IT SIMPLE SAINTS

And then there is what one person wrote ….

DO YOUR GIVING WHILE YOU'RE LIVING

THEN YOU'LL BE KNOWING WHERE IT'S GOING !

A wise comment indeed

Hope that some of this may be of interest or helpful

INTESTATE

Any person who dies without executing (making) a valid last will is known as dying INTESTATE and in that event the deceased's estate is distributed according to the Law on Intestacy. The importance of making a Last Will is that your true wishes will be made known at the time of your death.

Without a valid Last Will and Testament, obtaining Letters of Administration and appointing an administrator, can take months or sometimes even years. In the meantime your surviving spouse or partner has all the usual household, weekly, monthly, and daily expenses to find and they will probably be on a reduced income, plus it will be at a time when they most need reassurance. Your surviving spouse or partner may not have access to money, she or he would normally have a right to, because the assets could be frozen until all the formalities have been sorted out, (someone else deciding who gets your life's assets). If you have got a valid Last Will it should take no longer than three months to obtain Probate and release your assets to the people who you chose

and so WHERE THERE'S A WILL ... THERE'S A WAY !