p. 130 | The Proper Disposition of Property by W. T. Knox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 6, 1913

The Proper Disposition of Property

By W. T. Knox

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” Matt. 6:19.

Thus the Lord instructs his people concerning their stewardship, how it is to be exercised, and how he wishes his entrusted substance invested, not in the building up of earthly possessions to be subject to earth’s corruption and loss, but for his eternal, abiding kingdom. All we have is his. In its daily use and final disposition, therefore, the necessities and interests of God’s cause must always be considered.

In every dispensation, from Adam’s time to ours, God has claimed the property of man, saying, I am the rightful owner of the universe; therefore consecrate to me thy first-fruits, bring a tribute of loyalty, surrender to me my own, thus acknowledging my sovereignty, and you shall be free to retain and enjoy my bounties, and my blessing shall be with you. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase.”

God’s requirements come first. We are not doing his will if we consecrate to him what is left of our income after all our imaginary wants have been supplied. Before any part of our earnings is consumed, we should take out and present to him that portion which he claims. In the old dispensation, an offering of gratitude was kept continually burning upon the altar, thus showing man’s endless obligation to God. If we have prosperity in our secular business, it is because God blesses us. A part of this income is to be devoted to the poor, and a large portion to be applied to the cause of God. When that which God claims is rendered to him, the remainder will be sanctified and blessed to our own use. But when a man robs God by withholding that which he requires, his curse rests upon the whole.

God has made men the channels through which his gifts are to flow, to sustain the work which he would have carried forward in the world. He has given them property to be wisely used, not selfishly hoarded, or extravagantly expended in luxury and selfish gratification either in dress or in the embellishment of their houses. He has entrusted them with means with which to support his servants in their labor as preachers and missionaries, and to sustain the institutions he has established among us.—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IV, page 477.

Evidently, then, it is the duty and privilege of every man during all his life to honor the Lord with his substance and with the first-fruits of all his increase, to bestow liberally upon the cause of God; but the responsibility of stewardship for many extends even beyond this life. As the Lord claims as his own all our possessions, he must be concerned in the final disposition of our means. If a child of God would stand clear, he must so arrange his affairs that even after death has closed his active stewardship, the Lord shall still be honored by his substance. In other words, as far as is in our power, we must make such final disposition of our property interests as will be to the glory of God.

Proper provision should, of course, be made for those who are dependent upon us; but the Lord will not be honored by having our means fall into the hands of those who do not need it, nor of those who would use it in an unwise and harmful manner. We are, to a certain extent, responsible for how our means will be used after our death, and we should, in view of this, now while we have the opportunity and the power, by a properly executed will or otherwise, arrange for such a final disposition of our stewardship as will be in keeping with the will of God.

Many have fully planned to do this soon, definitely determining that the cause of God should be benefited by all or a part of their possessions after their death, but because of delay and carelessness in carrying out what they recognized as duty, death has overtaken them unprepared in this important matter, with resultant loss to the cause of God. We have very definite instruction concerning this in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IV, pages 478, 479:—

There are aged ones among us who are nearing the close of their probation; but for the want of wide-awake men to secure to the cause of God the means in their possession, it passes into the hands of those who are serving Satan. This means was only lent them of God to be returned to him; but in nine cases out of ten, these brethren, when passing from the stage of action, appropriate God’s property in a way that can not glorify him, for not one dollar of it will ever flow into the Lord’s treasury. In some cases these apparently good brethren have had unconsecrated advisers, who counseled from their own standpoint, and not according to the mind of God. Property is often bequeathed to children and grandchildren only to their injury. They have no love for God or for the truth, and therefore this means, all of which is the Lord’s, passes into Satan’s ranks, to be controlled by him. . . .

Many manifest a needless delicacy on

this point. They feel that they are stepping upon forbidden ground when they introduce the subject of property to the aged or to invalids in order to learn what disposition they design to make of it. But this duty is just as sacred as the duty to preach the word to save souls. Here is a man with God’s money or property in his hands. He is about to change his stewardship. Will he place the means which God has lent him to be used in his cause, in the hands of wicked men, just because they are his relatives? Should not Christian men feel interested and anxious, for that man’s future good as well as for the interest of God’s cause, that he shall make a right disposition of his Lord’s money, the talents lent him for wise improvement? Will his brethren stand by, and see him losing his hold on this life, and at the same time robbing the treasury of God? This would be a fearful loss to himself and to the cause; for, by placing his talent of means in the hands of those who have no regard for the truth of God, he would, to all intents and purposes, be wrapping it in a napkin and hiding it in the earth.

Nothing is to be gained by delay, but on the other hand, much may be lost. The laws of some of the States will not recognize bequests made to religious or benevolent bodies where the will is made within a short time of the death of the testator. Careful thought should be given to this important question, and if there is any uncertainty as to how to proceed, proper counsel should be obtained, making sure that the requirements of the laws of the State are complied with, for much has been lost by wills that have been improperly drawn.

The following skeleton of a form of will may be helpful to some:—

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN:

I, ...................., of the city of ...................., county of ...................., and State of ...................., being now in good health, and strength of body and mind, but sensible of the uncertainty of life, and desiring to make disposition of my property and affairs while in health and strength, do hereby make, publish, and declare the following to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and canceling all former wills by me at any time made.

ARTICLE I

I direct the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses.

ARTICLE II

I hereby give and bequeath (using an additional article for each party to be benefited by the will, specifying the nature of the bequest).

I hereby appoint ...................., of ...................., executor and administrator of this, my last will and testament.

WITNESS my hand and seal this .................... day of ...................., in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and .................... .................... (SEAL)

The foregoing instrument, consisting of .......... pages .......... including this page, was, at the date thereof, by .......... the maker thereof, signed in our presence, and in the presence of each of us, and at the time of his subscribing said instrument he declared that it was his will, and at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, we have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

............ residing at ............

Many times the uncertainties and the heavy expenses and losses involved in probating a will may be avoided by our aged brethren’s adopting some other method, such as arranging with our conferences or institutions for annuity contracts, whereby they can make secure to the cause of God their means, and at the same time secure a proper income during their lives. Or if their property consists of real estate, a somewhat similar arrangement could be made by deed, and the receiving in exchange of a life lease upon the property at a nominal rental, thus retaining the use or rent of the property during their lives, but making it sure to the cause of God after their death, without the expense and trouble attending the probating of a will. Our ministers, and especially the conference officials, should in these matters recognize their responsibility and advise with those who need their assistance in these affairs. W. T. Knox.