A Psalm for Leaving a Gift in your Will
Does your congregation ever talk about how members can leave a gift to the church in their wills? Christians can be downright offended when someone tries to talk about money or death in church! However, Scriptures are full of references to both death and money.
I love the Psalms, not just the poetry and beauty of the words, but the honest emotions. I heard Psalm 112 read aloud a few weeks ago and it struck me that this Psalm talks about how generosity continues beyond the life of the donor. Here’s the first nine verses. I am getting out my highlighter and going back to my theology student days.
Psalm 112 NIRV
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who have respect for the Lord.
They find great delight when they obey God’s commands.
2 Their children will be powerful in the land.
Because they are honest, their children will be blessed.
3 Their family will have wealth and riches.
They will always be blessed for doing what is right.
4 Even in the darkness light shines on honest people.
It shines on those who are kind and tender and godly.
5 Good things will come to those who are willing to lend freely.
Good things will come to those who are fair in everything they do.
6 Those who do what is right will always be secure.
They will be remembered forever.
7 They aren’t afraid when bad news comes.
They stand firm because they trust in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure. They aren’t afraid.
In the end they will see their enemies destroyed.
9 They have spread their gifts around to poor people.
Their good works continue forever.
They will be powerful and honored.
What people who follow God do
People who follow God are both just and generous. God cares about what we do with 100% of what has been entrusted to us. Integrity means that our charitable giving informs our lives, and our deaths.
People who follow God act justly (italics). They are honest, fair in everything they do, doing what is right, obeying God (v.1-6). Is there a difference between supporting the church in life and leaving a gift to the church in one’s will? From God’s perspective, is there any difference?
People who follow God act generously (underlined text). They are kind, tender, godly, willing to lend freely (v.4,5). They spread their gifts around to poor people (v.9). Perhaps I should not be separating justice and generosity; certainly philanthropists like Madam C.J. Walker (previous post) made no such distinction.
Their good works continue forever: Life and death as a testimony to God’s faithfulness
Generous people leave a legacy that will outlive them. Their good works will continue forever (v.9) and they will be remembered forever (v. 6). The generous people I’ve met tend to be humble; they don’t seek recognition. Would they be pleased to know that they can support good works that will continue after they are gone? Absolutely! Would they like their life, and their death, to be a testimony to God’s faithfulness? Yes.
I encourage the church to follow the Psalmist’s lead and talk about how church members can help good works to continue long after they are gone. Leaving a bequest is a final testimony; generosity is always an opportunity to sing God’s praises.
P.S. In a previous post, I tell the story of a bequest to a church “One final act of kindness.”
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version® NIRV®
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