We Are Beneficiaries

My Hump Devotion is taking me down an interesting path: being a beneficiary. The reason why is we had a nice young couple stay at the campground and they had an almost new beautiful Class 3 motorhome. They knew little about what to do with it and being with us was their first time out. I asked them, “did you just buy it?” He answered, “no, I am the beneficiary.” I told him what a wonderful gift and he and his wife agreed.

The reason they had it was not from a dead relative, but from a couple they have lived next door to in Albuquerque for 16 years. Out of the last 10 years, they’ve truly been caretakers (and “adopted kids”) of this couple whose children, 4 of them, are scattered throughout the U.S. and 1 in Japan. In early April, they were killed in a traffic accident. It was devastating for the family and their “neighbor family” as well.

But there is more to the story: the couple were not only beneficiaries of the motorhome, but also the car (which was destroyed in the accident) and the home! The kids had already told their parents they didn’t want the home as they were not returning to New Mexico to live. So their parents put it in their trust along with the motorhome! The couple were concerned about what to do with the home as they love their own home and then, because he is retired military, two of the sons are also in the military and the deceased dad was a Korean War soldier, they decided last week to set the home up for Afghanistan refugees! They wanted the blessing from the kids to do this and after a conference call together with a unanimous and enthusiastic “yes” this 4 bedroom, 2850 square foot home will house those who need it most.

So, all this sent me to thinking about what it is to be a “benefactor” and a “beneficiary.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, the Apostle Paul said it best and the Message version is powerful:

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah
gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges!
Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him,
and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah,
giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins.
God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing.
We’re Christ’s representatives.
God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences
and enter into God’s work of making things right between them.
We’re speaking for Christ himself now:
Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.”

How often do each of us wrestle with regrets over past failures? And how about the course of our lives right now that is anything but ‘normal’ and finding clarity for our future? What will happen, and what a mess have we already inherited through this globe?

Do you have life insurance? Do you have plans for your future, your family? Do you have things you want to give upon your death? Are you hoping to be a beneficiary from family or friends, or??

When we set aside money for kids to go to college, or put funds for retirement or other types of future legacy, etc., did you ever think of what you are creating for someone? What you are doing is providing, the recipient has nothing that have to do for it, they will reap the benefits that we believe will help them.

God is asking us to sit down with him and talk. God wants us to understand what it means to be both benefactor and beneficiary. God is saying, “child, what you do for a loved one so it is also me. I have treasures, promises and gifts for you. You do not have to work for them, for you are my child, you are entitled to them, you are my beneficiaries.”

Think about that, what did God do for your benefit? Usually one has to die before the beneficiary receives what they have left behind…yep, that’s Jesus! His death sealed the deal for us, making sure we would have access to all that He has throughout our lives while alive and then an eternity with him in heaven—now that’s a deal for sure.

 In our human transactions, we mostly choose our beneficiaries because of mutual love, or favoritism, or a belief this person is worthy or deserves this. We often judge the person’s past just in case we think they are not worthy…but Jesus doesn’t do this ever! NOTHING in your past will keep him from loving you and he will never take away your access to all that he has for you.

In the love of the whole Trinity, the Godhead, God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, you are adopted as their child with access to all they have…you are their beneficiary. Don’t take that lightly, celebrate it…but as all who receive, remember you must share and here is your time to be the benefactor: you have the Gospel in your heart, Christ is your all in all, someone out there doesn’t know that. Share it freely and freely bring them to the joy of being a beneficiary of our awesome God, AMEN!