Value Inheritance

For  the past month or so, I have been in a journey understanding the value of inheritance. It started when I went to Redding, CA and I saw what was built, after years of sacrifice. I walked into the place and felt so much grace and power freely. I did not have to pay anything for it. It was available for me for free. I was very humbled on the flight back as I reflected on what I sensed. I realized I had to value what they did for me. They sacrificed something for me and they had never met me.  The tendency is for us to value something that cost us something, but if someone else did then we really don't value it. This is how inheritance can be thrown away.

Inheritance is when someone leaves something that's of value to someone else. So, as a father I want to make sure my kids' inheritance has high value so they they can invest it and pass it on to my grandkids. I do not want them to inherit my debt. It's important for me to pay the price now so my kids will not have to go through the same path I did. It's important that my success is the ground they build upon. For me to accomplish this I have to value what my parents gave me in life. I have to value the price they payed for me so I could walk in what I am walking in now for free. Inheritance is not money. If your great, great, grand father took time every Saturday and played with his kids in sports, by the time you are born, you walk in a family of athletes. So,  do I value inheritance ?

1. First, find out what you carry at the present. You can't value something if you don't know what you have.  This was the case in the The Prodigal Son story of the older brother.
   
   
    28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. (Luke 15:28 - 31)
   
   The brother saw his younger brother receiving a great deal of riches even though he blew it away and became very angry. But I believe if he knew what he had, he would have been part of the celebration.
   Even his Dad reminded him that he had it all this time.
   
   
2. Second, find out how you received your inheritance. Go back and listen to the stories of your family. It may not be the most dramatic events, but in their times it was. You get to listen to their hearts while they talk about their times of faith. Write it down so that your kids will remember what your family did. This is not for the next generation to repeat the same sacrifices, but is to remember the price they payed for you to go further. When you do this then one day others will the do the same for you.
   
   
3. Third, learn how to steward the inheritance. A great example would be if your parents gave you a car when you turn 16. If you took care of the car, it can last you for some time. You would have to clean it, matain it, etc.. But if you did not steward what was given to you, then the possiblity of the car breaking is high. Therefore, you can end up working to pay the bills to fix it, when you could have just enjoyed something for free.
   
   It's the same thing when you go to a work place or a ministry. When you start  a job, you actually are working for someone that started something from nothing. Their sacrifices allowed for you to work and make money. And if you steward it well, you will be be promoted and eventually hire other people for the company.
   
   
4. Last, do not be ashamed of what has been given to you. You will find after sometime valuing inheritance, people will take notice on what you carry. This so important because what you carry is what they need. Some folks may envy it, others may serve you many ways. But it's because God is highlighting you so others can receive the inheritance also. Freely you receive, freely you give away. This is how the inheritance increases.

What happens if you value inheritance ? Then what gets started increases after each generation! Movements and ideas are not meant to die. They are meant for increase and the only way to do that is to learn to value inheritance.