“I want to give it all to the Lord and all to the kids. Can I do that?” he asked. When I said that he could, he was excited to learn the details.

Down the road the elderly couple acknowledged, “We have three kids and Jesus in our family. What’s the best way to give Jesus’ share to the church?” Here was another dramatic witness to the values by which this family had worked, played, and worshiped.

God’s people want to be good managers, but they seldom understand their options. For many, a Christian estate plan helps them manage what the Lord has given them.

A preamble

What constitutes a good Christian estate plan? It reflects the values a Christian adopted through-out life—the same values he or she wants to confess even at life’s end. A Christian estate plan begins with a preamble that sets down personal beliefs and principles. A preamble can be the source of comfort for the widow of a Christian husband. She can return to the confession and be reassured that her husband died as a confessing believing Christian. He is with the Lord in the glories of heaven. The preamble can serve as a witness to friends and neighbors in the community. I’ve seen it quoted in the obituary.

Thinking through the options

But it’s more than a preamble. It finally comes down to deciding how to distribute assets at the end of our earthly journey. Most people are not aware of all the challenges and opportunities. For example, someone may not have considered the tax liabilities on IRAs, annuities, 401Ks, and other tax deferred dollars. I have met many who desire that 25 percent of their estate should go to their church. Yet the tax liabilities may reduce the amount to less than 10 percent because they simply did not consider everything.

Every Christian steward understands the need to “Render unto Caesar.” We must pay taxes; it’s our Christian responsibility. But we can make use of existing laws to minimize our taxes and divert more money to our families and the work of the Lord. Many have no idea of their tax liability as they go home to heaven. The deferred taxes accumulating in retirement accounts can result in taxes for heirs. Yet for little or no cost, those dollars can be diverted from taxes to ministry.

Why do people use percentages in their estate planning? As one gentleman said recently, “Job knew it best, ‘The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh.’ I don’t know his plan for my life, but I want to know that my final tithe will be made.” A fine sentiment. Will it happen? Only if the plan covers all the blessings the Lord is asking you to manage.