God's Economy #30: Inheritance, Part 1

Throughout history, different cultures have practiced bequeathing their goods to their children. Inheritances have included land, jewelry, rifles and all sorts of property, titles of the nobleman, a crown, and certain privileges like season tickets to the Green Bay Packers.

In the Bible, there are two types of inheritances: material possessions and the spiritual or theological. Both are rooted in the doctrines of God's ownership of all things, stewardship, and the covenant. God is very interested in the future. Indeed, the very nature of the covenant (a promise) is future oriented. Which is one reason why were commanded to remember the past, prepare for the future, and instruct our children.

The first inheritance mentioned in the Bible is the Lord giving the land of Canaan to Abraham. Hundreds of years later, during the conquest, Joshua apportions the land to the tribes of Israel. In the middle of the apportionment, the Levites are not given an inheritance. Rather, God himself is their inheritance. We see this theme expand through the pages of Scripture culminating in the gift of Christ to His people.

Although our primary and first inheritance is spiritual, that does not mean we should ignore financial or material inheritances. The first inheritance we receive from God is mediated through the sexual union of our parents: life, genes (nose, hair, eye color, etc.), intelligence, gifts and talents, etc. This is one reason why the apostle Paul can tell us to obey our parents "for it is right."

The duty of parents includes passing on an inheritance, which is what we will address and part two.