RECENTLY I overheard an Adventist attorney tell one of his clients, "You would be surprised how many ministers come to me to have their wills drawn up and tell me, 'Make it out so my wife will get everything when I die, and then give it to my children.' " The attorney then added these words, "I haven't felt it was my responsibility to tell the ministers that they ought to leave something to the church. After all, they are ministers and they are the ones who are supposed to teach us." This started me thinking, and I would like to share a few thoughts on this subject with my fellow ministers.
Leaders for God
A minister has the sacred privilege of representing God to the members of the church and to the community in which he lives. As God's man he should at all times, both in his personal conduct and in his business relations, be an example to the flock and to the "onlookers." Nothing will destroy the influence of the minister or mute the church's voice more than a leader who does not live what he professes.
Ministers are to be leaders for God, exerting a spiritual influence for good and for holy living wherever they go and in whatever they do. In addition, the minister is God's spokesman, not only representing himself but actually speaking for God. The sensitive man of God is aware that he speaks not only by words but by attitudes and actions. The degree that materialism and possessions dominate his decisions is often more visible to others than to the person himself.
When we consider that Christianity is a personal relationship with a personal God and personal Saviour, then a new dimension is added to our witness and our spiritual life. Jesus should be the best friend to every true man of God, and to advance His work and en large His kingdom should be his chief interest and greatest joy in life.
Both the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy make it clear that our so-called property does not belong to us, that it is God who is the real owner, both by creation and redemption. What we like to call "our" property has only been loaned to us (Counsels on Stewardship, p. 324). He has made us His trustees, and a trustee has an obligation to manage property that belongs to another.
"What shall we do with our time, our talents and our possessions, which are not ours but are entrusted to us to test our honesty?" Ibid., pp. 116, 117. When ever a man thinks of himself as an owner rather than a steward of his Lord's goods, he is well on his way to becoming an unfaithful steward. God requires faithfulness on the part of every steward.
Ministers are called of God to lead His people to a full commitment of their time, talents, and possessions. During recent years many of our members have come to understand what it means to support the work of the church cheerfully, liberally, and system atically. However, there are still many who have made no provision to include God's work in their plans for death. To make God first in life and in death should be the most natural thing for every committed Christian,
Faithful Stewardship
As leaders of influence and men of a sacred calling, we should set an example of careful financial management. Learning the art of managing one's personal finances in a way that will bring honor to God by properly providing for one's family requires self-discipline and the ability to say No to those we love.
It is the minister's responsibility to provide financially for his wife and dependent children, not only during life, but in the event he should lose his life prematurely by accident. As a responsible parent, he should have well-prepared plans so his children may be able to finish their education. This can best be done through the use of an educational trust with the Conference Association. However, after one has provided for the education of his children and they are on their own, it then becomes possible to give a larger portion to the Lord's work.
Since Jesus is our best friend and He is the owner of all our possessions, then we ought to ask ourselves the question, Why should He not receive all that we have left when our life is ended? There may be good reasons why it is not wise to leave one hundred per cent to the Lord's work. These reasons should be carefully and prayerfully weighed in the light of the needs of our family and Christ's great sacrifice for us. As partners with Christ, a good plan would be to divide our accumulated possessions equally between the children and the Lord's work. This would mean half for the Lord's work and half to the children.
A Finished Work
The mission of the church should be kept uppermost in the minds of ministers and laity. To teach all nations the everlasting gospel is the commission of our Lord. Just as the corporate church has a mission, so the individual church member has his mission. As ministers who have been called of God, we too have our special mission. God is our judge, and our faithfulness or unfaithfulness will determine our destiny.
Think what it would mean to the treasury of the Lord's work if every church member and every worker would include the Lord's work in his will to the fullest extent possible. Untold millions of dollars would be flowing into the cause of God each year.
It is thrilling when we hear reports of non-Adventists' leaving large sums of money to assist in the work of the church. Recently, a Jewish woman living in the Chicago area went to her attorney, who was not an Adventist, and asked him to prepare her will. She said that she was interested in leaving her estate to charitable work. He suggested that she might want to consider the medical work of the Seventh-day Adventists. She then told him to write it up that way. This woman died recently. When her estate was settled, about $250,000 was given through the Illinois Conference Association to the General Conference for worldwide medical work.
A few years ago a Presbyterian woman living in the New York City area through her will left property to the church valued at close to $1 million. This was thrilling in deed.
Stories of Presbyterians and Jewish people as well as others remembering the charitable work done by Seventh-day Adventists are encouraging, but we cannot expect those not of our faith to finish the work; neither can we expect God to perform a miracle to finish His work on the earth. The Adventist Church must look to its own members to put their possessions on the altar in this life and also at death.
As spiritual leaders of the flock of God, we need to take the admonition of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy seriously. As colaborers with Christ, we have a responsibility for our influence and example. God's work must come first in our lives or we are hirelings. Before a minister, or any Christian for that matter, goes to an attorney to have his will drafted, he should seek God's will by Bible study and earnest prayer, and read carefully the counsel that has been given to us by God's servant in the Spirit of Prophecy.
When Christ and His work take first place in our life and service, it is natural that He will have first place in the distribution of our life estate, by will or by trust.
Practical Suggestions
1. Keep an up-to-date will, providing for the orderly distribution of your assets at your demise.
2. Look into the many advantages of a conference trust agreement working in combination with your will for the education of children or the care of elderly dependents.
3. Make sure that your will is representative of your true Christian concern and commitment. A Christian will should testify to the Lordship of Christ by remembering the immediate family according to their needs and also include the work of Christ as the Holy Spirit shall direct.
4. Your will should be kept in a safe, fireproof place known to your executor. The Conference Association office will be glad to assist you by keeping the original copies in its fireproof safe. You can keep a photocopy in your home.
5. Making plans for the future of your loved ones is an evidence of mature responsibility and brings much satisfaction when the document is legally drafted and properly signed.
No leader can give effective leadership unless he himself practices what he is preaching. When we first set our own affairs in order then we can encourage the members of our churches to do the same.
The Conference Association and its representatives are always happy to help you and the members of your churches to include God and His work in their wills.
