PLAN BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. If you have not done so, plan to do it before it’s too late! We all know that the day will come when we will no longer be here. Yet many of us put off making the necessary plans of what we want to happen when we leave here. Why do people put off making plans on how they want their possessions to be handled after they die?

We have been looking at how to be successful with money and the other resources God has given us. We have determined that successfully managing money and the possessions God has given us involves putting Him first in everything we do.

Now we look at managing our earlier years so that our later ones may be peaceful, happy ones. Finally, we will examine God’s guidance and counseling in our final years. How should we prepare for retirement and even death?

From a biblical perspective, we consider some of the things we should and should not do.  

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Asking for God’s Help

Our Heavenly Father, give us the courage to face the uncertainty of the future. Grant us the knowledge, resources, and support we need to make informed decisions so that we can ease the burden on our loved ones.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

There could be a variety of reasons why people avoid making plans before they die. Here are four possible reasons:

• Fear of death: Many people avoid making plans before they die because they fear confronting their own death. They may be in denial about the certainty of death and prefer to avoid thinking or talking about it.
• Uncertainty about the future: Planning for the end of life can be challenging because it requires thinking about a lot that is uncertain. Some may feel overwhelmed by the many unknowns and may not know where to begin.
• Procrastination: Others may put off making plans because they believe they have plenty of time to do so. They do not feel a sense of urgency, so they prioritize other tasks or activities over planning for their end of life.
• Lack of knowledge or resources: End-of-life planning can be complex and require specific information or resources. Therefore, some people may feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the process and may need help knowing what to do.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that avoiding planning for the end of life can have a significant impact on both the individual and their family. Therefore, planning ahead can provide peace of mind, ensure that your wishes are respected, and help eliminate the burden on family members and caregivers during this most difficult time.

From a Biblical perspective, In the Old Testament, we find that many of God’s people worked as farmers and shepherds. So, many of God’s promises are written in farm language. That is, many of the promises were related to the people in terms of livestock, such as sheep, and crops, such as wheat.

For example, in Proverbs 3:9 and 10. God tells his people that if they are financially faithful to Him, that is if they:

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9, 10)

Now most of us today don’t have barns. But many of us have some form of storage. Right? However, this promise assures us that God will bless our work and business if we honor and obey Him. Then our storage, our bank accounts, our savings, or whatever will overflow.

Now, with overflow, it becomes necessary to take an account of what you have accumulated. This is the point of Proverbs 27:23–27

23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds;

24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field;

27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants. (Proverbs 27:23–27)

In other words, verse 23 is saying that you should know the state of your affairs.

23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; (Proverbs 27:23).

The one thing it is not saying is that it is wrong to have or work to accumulate wealth or possession. So, no, the Bible doesn’t say that riches are evil or that we shouldn’t obtain wealth.

However, the Bible repeatedly warns against the rich or wealthy mistreating the poor and being greedy or selfish with their possessions.

Proverbs 27:23–27 encourages us to work hard so that we will have enough money to take care of ourselves and our families.

But, it does not stop there; Proverbs 27:27 promises:

27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants. (Proverbs 27:27). 

How might this be written today? It could say: “Review your bank accounts. Decide how much money you have, how much you have coming in relation to how much you owe, and how much you have going out.”

The promise is that when we obey God’s instructions, we will have enough to take care of our family needs and also have enough to pay those who do work for us.

From time to time, we are to review our retirement plan to see how much we have in it and how much we need for the future.

Moreover, looking at your plan or will for what you want to be done with your money and property after you die is a good idea. Then, you should make any changes needed to keep them up to date.

You may need to make changes from time to time, depending on the changes that have taken place in your life.

Most important is the idea that we should take care of our business while we are healthy and can make good decisions. This will prevent others from having to make those decisions for us.

Documents such as wills, trusts, and power of attorney should be put in place early. Early planning is a protection against untimely death or not being able for health reasons to decide where your assets or possessions should go.

This is precisely what King David, a servant of God in the Old Testament, did.

He established what should happen to his estate upon his death.  The following is a commentary on his preparations for death.

“David’s public labor was about to close. He knew that he should soon die, and he does not leave his business matters in confusion to vex the soul of his son; but while he has sufficient physical and mental strength, he arranges the affairs of his kingdom, even to the minutest matters, not forgetting to warn Solomon in regard to the case of Shimei. He knew that the latter would cause trouble in the kingdom. He was a dangerous man, of violent temper, and was kept in control only through fear. Whenever he dared, he would cause rebellion, or, if he had a favorable opportunity, would not hesitate to take the life of Solomon.

David, in arranging his business, sets an excellent example to all who are advanced in years to settle their matters. At the same time, they are capable of doing so, that when they shall be drawing near to death, and their mental faculties are dimmed, they shall have nothing of a worldly nature to divert their minds from God.—Ellen G. White Comments, in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 2, pp. 1024, 1025.

In short, being a good manager is more than spending and saving wisely while we are alive. Being a good manager also includes planning what will happen to your money and property after you die.

The point is: if we die before Jesus comes back, one day, we will be gone. We will leave our money and everything we own, that is, our material possessions, whether it is a lot or a little, to someone else.

Remember what it said in Proverbs 27:24?

24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. (Proverbs 27:24)

So, it is up to us to plan what we want to be done with the resources God has given us. Then, we must choose how those resources will bless others and further support God’s work after we are gone.

But does making plans on what happens to our possession after we die free us up to withhold what we have and store it up to be distributed after death?

Find out Day 5: Deathbed Charity

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Houston, TX 77088

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