Biblical Answer

Is it selfish to want to leave my family some inheritance after I'm gone?

In considering whether it is selfish to want to leave an inheritance to your family after you're gone, we need to consider what the Bible says about this topic. On one hand, Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." This verse suggests that leaving an inheritance to our children and grandchildren can be a good thing, as it is a way to provide for their well-being and security. However, we must also consider the motivations behind our desire to leave an inheritance. Are we doing it out of love and a desire to provide for our family, or are we doing it out of a desire to control or manipulate them?

In addition to considering our motivations, we must also think about the potential impact of our actions on others. Leaving a large inheritance can place significant burdens on our children and grandchildren, and can even lead to a sense of entitlement or dependency. This can be particularly problematic if our children and grandchildren are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of managing a large inheritance. As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:7, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it?" This verse reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God, and that we are simply stewards of it. We must be careful not to become attached to our possessions or to use them to control or manipulate others.

Ultimately, whether it is selfish to want to leave an inheritance to your family after you're gone depends on your motivations and the potential impact of your actions on others. If you are doing it out of love and a desire to provide for your family, and if you are careful to consider the potential impact of your actions, then it may not be selfish. However, if you are doing it out of a desire to control or manipulate others, or if you are not careful to consider the potential impact of your actions, then it may be selfish. As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." This verse reminds us that our true treasure is not our possessions, but our relationship with God and our commitment to doing good and being generous.