Prepared?

Several years ago, a dear friend said to me that when her husband died, she had no idea what to do. “I had no knowledge of our family financial matters and no way to appropriately handle all the questions that came about his business when he died.” But she went on to say, “After I started working through all the things surrounding the business, I decided that the only way to support myself was to keep it going, so I did.” Years later, she has maintained a successful business enterprise that continues to provide for her needs and that of her family. She said, “God has blessed me to be able to take up where my husband left off and to keep the business operating. He has been so faithful to help me every day.”

Another friend shared, “When my husband suffered a stroke, all the things he had told me we were going to do were not possible. I had bills to pay, debts on cars, machinery, a camper, and a home and children with circumstances that needed my help. I sold the camper and a car, kept him at home and cared for him around the clock, and by God’s grace and with the help of Christian friends, we have been able to take care of things with what we had. God is so good!”

In the most challenging of times and the most difficult of circumstances, God is faithful to help us. As you think about helping your family in responsible ways, recognize the value and importance of a will, along with a living will describing your wishes in regard to medical care decisions, and a power of attorney and a medical power of attorney if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Wise counsel can help many families deal with very difficult and often complex business and legal matters if there are plans in place to provide for suddenly changing circumstances. It is not “bad luck” to plan for the future.

Making decisions about your spiritual journey are also vital to planning for any future.
Do you know your Savior, Jesus Christ? Have you publicly acknowledged him in your witness to family, friends, and those important to you to share with? Have you recognized the blessing of a church family with which to share your life’s journey and testimony of faith? Do you recognize the importance and value of friendships that are worth your time now to build and share daily?

God enables us and equips us to be heirs with Christ! Such a provision is beyond our dreams and yet it is God’s gift through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a gift to be lived now and in the future. Undertake preparation in the ways you can and trust God for His help and wisdom and provision of eternal hope.