Wealth and Estate Planning for the Wealthy: A Heart Check for Every Believer
When we think about estate planning, we often focus on numbers, legal documents, and strategies to pass down wealth efficiently. But Scripture reminds us that planning for the future is not just a financial matter—it is first and foremost a spiritual one.
In Luke 18:22–23, Jesus encounters the rich young ruler who had all the appearances of moral success. He claimed to have kept the commandments, yet Jesus exposed the deeper truth: his heart was bound to his possessions. When asked to sell everything and follow Him, the young man walked away sorrowful. Wealth had become his god, and he could not release it.
This passage is not a condemnation of wealth itself, but of misplaced affection. Money, when elevated above God, becomes a dangerous idol. But when surrendered to Him, it becomes a powerful tool for blessing others and advancing His Kingdom. Estate planning, then, is not just about transferring wealth—it is about examining where our hearts truly rest.
Wealth as a Heart Test
Jesus used the ruler’s wealth as a heart test. The man’s sorrow showed that money was his comfort and security. Estate planning asks us the same question: what role does wealth play in your heart?
If we cling to it tightly, we risk losing sight of the eternal. But when we use planning as a way to serve God and others—providing for our families wisely, investing in Kingdom purposes, and releasing control—we demonstrate that wealth is not our master, but a tool entrusted to us by God.
Scripture Reference: Luke 18:22–23
Ordering Our Lives Around God First
The very first commandment is clear: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Even good things—like caring for loved ones or preserving an inheritance—can become idols if they take God’s place in our priorities.
Estate planning offers us the chance to reorder our lives and resources around Him. By including generosity in our plans, ensuring fairness in distribution, and dedicating part of our wealth to Kingdom work, we declare that God—not money—is our highest allegiance.
Scripture Reference: Exodus 20:3
Stewardship Beyond This Life
The young ruler’s problem was not wealth itself, but that his wealth owned him. Estate planning calls us to reverse this perspective. We own nothing permanently; we are stewards for a season.
Wills, trusts, and charitable giving allow believers to extend stewardship beyond their lifetime. Through intentional planning, we can ensure that what God entrusted to us continues to serve His purposes long after we are gone. Jesus Himself reminds us: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
Scripture Reference: Luke 16:9
Leaving a Legacy of Faith, Not Just Finances
Perhaps the greatest mistake the rich young ruler made was failing to see that eternal treasure outweighs earthly gain. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–21).
Estate planning, when approached prayerfully, allows us to do just that. More than dividing wealth, it’s an opportunity to pass down our values, faith, and testimony. The best inheritance is not money or property—it is a spiritual legacy that points heirs toward Christ.
Imagine your estate plan as your “final testimony.” When your loved ones review the provisions you’ve made, what will it say about your heart? Did you place your hope in wealth—or in the God who entrusted it to you?
Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:19–21
Final Reflection
The story of the rich young ruler challenges us to examine our own relationship with wealth. For those with significant resources, estate planning can either expose misplaced priorities or become a powerful act of worship.
When done faithfully, estate planning reflects surrender to Christ, wise stewardship of resources, and a desire to bless future generations both materially and spiritually. Let us remember: true wealth is not in what we keep, but in what we release for the glory of God.
