For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. Mark 9:41
“The Bible says God is a rewarder. The giving you do on earth will result in eternal rewards. Even the smallest generous action such as giving a cup of water in Jesus’ name, merits rewards.
Thinking through the implications of this truths, my own belief is that you get no eternal reward for assets given at death. You don’t have any choice. You are leaving it all anyway!
How can you receive a reward for something you kept your entire life and were forced to give only at death? God will reward you later for your sacrifices now, for your faith shown now, for your unselfishness now in this life.”
Ron Blue with Jeremy White in Splitting Heirs (Chicago: Northfield, 2004) 102-103.
As I read resources to develop a well-rounded biblical view of “inheritance” for our thinking, Blue reminds us simply to do our giving while we are living because we will receive no rewards for what is done after we are dead. Good advice!
If we do this, we also model obedience for our children (and children’s children) and we pass on a legacy of generosity, because as the saying goes, “more is caught than taught.” Those after us will follow what we do more than what we say.
Heavenly Father, by your Holy Spirit, guide me while I am living regarding my giving, so that my life reflects your generosity to my children and children’s children, and so I receive rewards for obedience to lay at your feet in grateful worship. Make it so I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.