Extending Your Legacy Beyond the Grave

Providing For Those You Love After You’re Gone

The Ultimate Plan for Life – Part 5

Investing is such a non-emotional term. It almost sounds a little selfish. This lesson will cover how one can provide for the ones they love from beyond the grave. Yeah, that sounds better. If you love someone wouldn’t you want them to know that you have them even if you were to die? That’s the way I think because, frankly, I’m just not normal. In this section we discuss the ideas for investing, not for oneself, but for the ones you love that will be a victim of your transition to life after death.

The Thought or Concept:
My Motivation, My Why
I wish I can say this is a worse case scenario that will most likely not occur, but that’s not true. It’s actually a best case scenario that will most assuredly occur. Nonetheless, let me help you with a motivator that motives me.

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” – bible.com/bible/116/1TI.5.8.NLT

Who in their right mind would not want to care for their family when the inevitable occurs? Would you want (in my case a wife) your spouse to be left to struggle in the remaining years of their life? What about your children? This is my motivation; if I were to die today, would they be okay financially? Well I don’t want to leave it in their hands. Because I love them, I have a plan for this event. I know someday is coming even though I don’t like talking about it. If you don’t have a plan for this legacy, you set your family up for a failed legacy.  

The Practice:
What Can I Do?
Let’s discuss a few obvious things we can do to provide for our loved one’s beyond the grave. Let’s think of a few ways we can start to establish our legacy that lives beyond our death in uncommon ways.

1. Life Insurance. Life insurance is one the most common ways this is done. However, most people don’t have life insurance policies because it’s a luxury expense when you’re facing all other life expenses. But, did you know that life insurance policies don’t have to be expenses nor do they have to provide millions of dollars. Here’s a “two-for”. That’s two for one. Recall in our accounting section we discussed banking options. Well one of which is the credit union. Credit unions provide benefits that normal banks do not, like inexpensive insurance policies. Since Pamela and I have brought into our marriage respective credit union accounts, I’ve used those entities to set up life insurance policies for both of us. You should look into this before it’s too late.
2. An Inheritance. Have you ever dreamed that someone left you something big? Well I do. I often wonder why couldn’t I be that person who was left a trust-fund or some large estate? However, since that didn’t occur, what I wish could have been my story, is my motivation to make it another’s story. Unfortunately, if all things remain equal, Tamia won’t benefit as much as she’s already doing life with us. But what about her children? What about our adopted children’s children? Do you know who you can leave an inheritance? You must have something worth leaving. That’s your new goal; provide something that’s worth leaving.
3. A Pathway to Heaven. The question has never been if there is a Heaven or Hell, but rather how do we prepare for Heaven since it’s a possibility? I’m certain no one at least not those in my circles wish to prepare for Hell. At any rate, after life ends on Earth, don’t you want your family to see you after they depart Earth? If the answer to this question is “yes”, then you’ll need to invest not just in their future but their eternity. You need a plan to not only make sure you make it, but your family, those you’d love to spend eternity with. I’d like to offer this to you, find a local church that you can get connected with to see how it all works. At least start there. Your goal is to make sure you and your family know the pathway to Heaven.

This lesson might be one of the most impacting as it uses the best motivation possible to get you to act. If you won’t do it for those you love, then you won’t do it for anyone. I know this; if you truly love the people in your life, there’s very little you won’t do for them. 

Today is Friday!

We’ve just completed a lesson about how you can invest in the lives of others even after you’re dead. Sorry, that sounds harsh. At any rate, we’ve offered three actions you can take to begin preparing: 1) get a life insurance policy, 2) build an inheritance, and 3) get a pathway to Heaven. It’s your life which is your business; will it die with you or will it live on?

Question: What steps can you take today to begin ensuring your family is good when you’re gone?