The Meaning of Family Inheritance for The Christian Family

We’ve been taught to think of inheritance as something you receive after someone dies. This might look like a will, a house, a life insurance payout, or a set of valuables passed down from one generation to the next.

But that’s a limited view. Inheritance is more than a transaction. It’s a chance for transformation.

True inheritance isn’t what you leave behind. It’s what you build into family while you’re still here.

The world defines inheritance in terms of wealth: temporary, tangible, and measurable. But Scripture and legacy-minded families think in different terms: eternal, relational, and lived. 

Let’s dive deeper into how to make that mental and intentional shift from the worldly definition of inheritance, to the family legacy meaning of inheritance. 

The Real Family Inheritance

Earthly inheritance can be misused, abused, or can eventually run dry. Properties get sold, money gets spent, and heirlooms will collect dust. 

Eternal inheritance isn’t about wealth or possessions- it’s the spiritual and relational legacy you pass on.

It multiplies rather than depletes. It doesn’t depend on market value or legal documents; it’s transferred through mission, vision, values, and a chosen, consistent way of life.

It’s not about how much you give your family to own, but what you’ve taught them to stand on.

The bottom line? Earthly wealth can create comfort. But eternal inheritance creates identity.
It tells your children: This is who we are. This is the God we trust. This is how we live.

Your kids won’t just remember what you believed. They’ll remember how you believed, especially when it cost you something. They’ll remember that you prayed when the diagnosis came. That you gave thanks when the budget was tight. That you chose peace when chaos called louder.

This is eternal inheritance in motion. It’s not stored away for later, but lived out in front of your family every day. It’s the quiet, consistent choices that shape their faith and form the foundation they’ll carry into their own families.

The Family Inheritance Shift

Every decision, every conversation, every tradition is shaping a generational blueprint, one your great-great-grandchildren may follow without ever knowing your name.

So instead of asking, What will I leave behind? Start asking:

• What am I building into them now?
• What atmosphere am I creating in my home?
• What truths will they carry long after I’m gone?
• What will their foundation be of mission, vision, and values?

From Family Inheritance to a Legacy That Actually Lasts

The inheritance that matters most isn’t written in legal language or measured by net worth. It’s not just about what your family will own. It’s about who they’re becoming.

At the core of any lasting legacy is this: pointing your family to the only inheritance that never fades… eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Because no amount of wisdom, tradition, or planning can replace the foundation of faith. All the legacy in the world means nothing if it’s not anchored to the one thing that truly lasts.

Ready to Take the Step?

If this resonates with you and you’re ready to think more intentionally about your own legacy, The Legacy Life by Hobby Lobby CEO David Green and Legacy Stone CEO Bill High is a powerful next step.

This book invites you to look beyond wealth, last names, or legal documents. It’s a call to build a legacy rooted in purpose, faith, and values that endure.

Because every family is passing on something. Not just money. Not just memories. But legacy.

So what will you pass on?

Will it be more than a name, a will, or a dollar amount? Will it be a lived example of grace, truth, forgiveness, and perseverance?

The Legacy Life will help you:

• Define the values your next generations will continue to walk in.

• Live out the behaviors and joyful culture you want to carry forward.

• Break old cycles and choose God’s better story.

• Unite your family around a shared purpose that lasts.

This isn’t just a book about estate planning, it’s a vision for families who want to become a force for redemption and blessing for generations to come.