Leaving a legacy

It is fascinating to read the ‘Wills’ column in the newspapers and see who has left part of their wealth to charitable causes. These people have obviously thought seriously about supporting organisations that they were interested in during their lives. Unfortunately, not many people get around to doing this. Indeed, too many people die without making a will at all. Others make a will and think it cannot be changed.

From April, the government is making it very appealing to give 10% of our estate to charitable causes. That’s a ‘tithe’ – who first came up with that?!

We know that money is something we can use as a resource for ourselves and the good of others during our lifetime, but what about the money we leave when we die? How can that be put to work for the good of our families and the benefit of Christ’s kingdom?

Writing a will is one way in which you can look after loved ones and invest in the Lord's work after your death. It can provide peace of mind for you and your family. What are the benefits?

• Your family is cared for.
• There are no misunderstandings in the handling of your estate.
• Your final requests are honoured and executed.

However, while many of us agree that making a will is important, we tend to put it off for a variety of reasons: it feels too complicated; it might be expensive; it can feel morbid, or we assume that everything will pass automatically to our spouse and/or our children. We might think it is only the wealthy who need a will, but you might be surprised at the value of the things that you leave behind.

One way to help others is to leave a legacy. This can provide a way to give back to the Lord something for mission and evangelism. It is like a friend leaving a final gift to a friend – a legacy ensures that your money works for the benefit of others long after you have gone. It’s a way of continuing God’s work in the areas that are closest to your heart. Legacies are rare and special gifts, from one generation to the next. They:

• demonstrate good stewardship – the parable of the talents in Mathew 25:14-30;
• are a way of giving more than you could in your lifetime – for example, some of the value of your home that can only be accessed after your death;
• allow you to give thanks to God by way of a final gift to his work after you have departed;
• are tax efficient – the money you give to charity is free from inheritance tax.

It may surprise to you to know how much of the money received by a charity is given through legacies. It might come as a bigger surprise to hear that only 7% of the population leave any kind of legacy to charity after they die. I wonder if you have ever thought of leaving a legacy towards the work of Christ’s kingdom?

I hope you value the ministry of Philo Trust in reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ. If that’s the case, would you please prayerfully consider leaving a legacy towards this ministry? The hope is that opportunities to share the gospel both in this country and beyond will increase, but we do need resources to expand what God has started here at Philo Trust. We are well aware that in a media-hungry world we need to be looking at new and costly ways of sharing Jesus’ message through the internet, radio, television and other resources. So would you please invest in a final gift to our work for the extension of Christ's kingdom after you have gone, so that others may benefit and hear the good news?

It has been said, “We can’t take it with us when we die” and of course that is true, but we can send it on ahead – by investing it in those who help others to get to heaven.

I hope you will prayerfully consider leaving a lasting legacy by including the ministry of Philo Trust in your will and knowing that your investment will continue the Lord’s work after your death. Please, if necessary, see a solicitor and don’t postpone making a will, or reviewing your existing will.

Thank you.



J John is a Christian speaker and writer and founder of the Philo Trust www.philotrust.com