December 6th

No longer Slaves, but Heirs

          My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Galatians 4:1-7

             My son is about to turn 18.  He is about to become an adult, capable of receiving an inheritance of all that I have, both positive and negative.  On top of all the panic that induces in my bowels, I also question what kind of inheritance I am leaving for my children.  Is what I am passing on what I want to be passing on?

            Financially, the answer is “not even close.”  I have too much debt.  I have too little money and my assets are minimal.  We regularly hover around the poverty line and often live paycheck to paycheck.  While this is great for the FAFSA and need-based scholarships, I do not want my present to make my son’s future more difficult.

            Family Stability?  This category is a strong inheritance.  My son has lived in the same home for his entire life.  If something in our house has ever been broken, he probably had a hand in it.  Although there is divorce and drama in the family tree, it is a generation or two removed and has not ravaged his childhood like it has with so many of his peers.  He has grown up in a home with a great marriage and strong siblings and efforts to make the raising of our children a priority.

            Spiritually?  We’ve done what we know how to do.  That involves a lot of prayer, a lot of teaching, a lot of making Jesus part of our daily lives and not simply a Sunday activity.  He actually knows Jesus and hears His voice.  He has a compassionate heart and eyes for justice and a deep desire to love God.

            Relationally?  I don’t have many friends.  My son has fewer.  I am not great at conversations.  He is worse.  I prefer to be with my family or alone.  That is where he resides as well.  This could definitely grow and develop for both he and I.

            Not surprisingly, the inheritance that I am passing on is a mixture of things that I am really proud of and things that I wish were better.  That’s how it works among us here on earth.

            But God?  The inheritance that He offers is so good.  So, so good.  There is completion and love neverending.  There is freedom from pain and sorrow, freedom from disability and delay.  There is perfect community made up of people who are no longer tainted by sin and fear.  There is life eternal with the One who created us and sculpted us into being.  There is joy and mystery and wonder that the next life offers that we can only dream of.

            We have the choice to be adopted by God, children and heirs of the King.  That makes us princes and princesses.

A moment to reflect:

What inheritance are you leaving for your child?  How do you want that to change?