What Legacy Giving Really Means for Children in Poverty
What Legacy Giving Really Means for Children in Poverty
What Legacy Giving Really Means for Children in Poverty
When most people think of legacy, they think of wealth, property, or achievements that are passed down after death. But in the Kingdom of God, legacy is measured differently. It is not about what we leave behind in material possessions, but what we leave behind in love, faith, and eternal impact. Legacy giving — including charities in a will or estate plan — is one of the most powerful ways to ensure that our lives continue to bear fruit for the Kingdom long after we are gone.
Jesus said in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” Legacy giving is one way to bear fruit that outlives us, blessing children and families for generations to come.
Legacy Beyond Wealth
For children living in poverty, legacy giving is not just about numbers in a bank account. It is about transformation. A legacy gift can build schools where none exist, provide medical clinics for entire communities, or fund sponsorship programs that will support children long into the future.
But more than physical transformation, legacy giving points to a spiritual truth: we live for something greater than ourselves. Matthew 6:19–20 reminds us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Legacy giving is storing treasure in heaven, investing in souls who will carry the Gospel long after we are gone.
A Biblical Model of Legacy
The Bible is full of examples of people whose faith became their true legacy. Abraham left behind a legacy of faith that birthed nations (Genesis 12:2). Ruth’s legacy was loyalty and faith, which led to her being part of the lineage of Christ (Ruth 4:17). Paul’s letters continue to shape the Church thousands of years later. Their legacies were not material but eternal.
In the same way, our legacy is not measured in what we accumulate but in what we sow. 2 Corinthians 9:6 teaches, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Legacy giving is sowing generously into the future of children who will reap the fruit long after we are gone.
Stories of Legacy in Action
Consider Margaret, a Christian woman in the UK who chose to include a child poverty charity in her will. She lived simply, but her gift funded the construction of a new school in a remote village in Africa. Hundreds of children have since graduated, many going on to become teachers, nurses, and pastors. Though Margaret is now with the Lord, her impact continues to ripple.
Another example is David, who left a portion of his estate to support child sponsorship programs. His gift allowed hundreds of children to be matched with sponsors. Each child not only received education and healthcare but also heard the Gospel. David’s legacy is written in the lives of children who now know Christ.
Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” While the proverb speaks of family, the principle applies broadly. Legacy giving ensures that spiritual children — the next generation — inherit hope and opportunity.
Why Legacy Giving Matters for Children in Poverty
Poverty is often generational. Children grow up without education or resources, repeating the cycle of their parents. Legacy gifts break these cycles. They create opportunities that ripple for decades. A school built through legacy giving doesn’t just serve today’s children — it serves generations to come.
For children in poverty, legacy giving means more than infrastructure. It means someone believed in their worth enough to make them part of their eternal story. It declares, “You matter. You are remembered. Even after I am gone, I choose to invest in your life.” This reflects Christ’s heart, who gave His life so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).
The Eternal Perspective
When we think of wills and estates, the focus is often on what we leave for family. And rightly so. But as Christians, we are also called to think eternally. What legacy will we leave for God’s Kingdom? Will our resources continue to serve His purposes after we are gone?
Legacy giving is not about loss but about multiplication. It is about seeing resources we cannot take with us used for purposes that will outlast us. Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Legacy giving ensures that even in death, our lives proclaim Christ.
The Call of the Church
The early Church understood this principle. Believers sold property and possessions to meet needs (Acts 2:45). They were not concerned with building earthly estates but with building the Kingdom. Today, legacy giving continues that spirit. It is an act of faith that says: “Lord, my life and my resources belong to You — even after I am gone.”
When Christians include children in poverty in their legacy, the Church becomes stronger. More schools are built, more Bibles are shared, more families are reached with the love of Christ.
Writing an Eternal Legacy
Legacy giving is not about wealth. It is about worship. It is not about loss. It is about love. It is not about death. It is about eternal life. When you choose to leave a gift for children in poverty, you are not just transferring assets — you are transferring hope, faith, and opportunity.
Your legacy becomes a living testimony of Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” It is a way to continue loving the least of these even when you are no longer here.
For children in poverty, legacy giving means schools built, meals provided, Bibles opened, and lives transformed. For you, it means leaving behind a story that echoes into eternity. Because true legacy is not measured in pounds or possessions — it is measured in love that never ends.
