If you spend five minutes listening to news reports, there is an awareness that tensions are high all over the world. Religious groups are at odds with each other. Races are hating and killing each other. Family conflicts and disagreements are common occurrences. Nations are at war or threatening to engage in war. Our streets have become a battleground for murder and hate crimes. Congress is so dysfunctional that a government shutdown seems inevitable. Even driving our cars on busy roadways is like being in a pressure cooker. All over the country, we are doing harm to each other at an alarming rate. Carjackings and car thefts have escalated tremendously over the last couple of years. COVID 19 is quietly lurking in our communities. Simply stated, tensions are high.  

The one area I wish to dwell on in this message is family tensions and conflicts. Siblings, in particular, have a tendency of creating tensions within the family for various reasons. Sometimes making the decisions regarding the care of a parent or grandparent can place a burden or strain on family members. Finances can play a crucial role in causing tensions within a family or for outside caregivers. It may be figuring out how to pay for a loved one’s care. Or, it could be that a loved one ‘s finances have become more of a concern than the love one. If you really want to witness a tense moment in a family, let a love one die without leaving their business in order.

Death has a tendency of doing one of two things: (1) It will either bring a family closer together or (2) death will cause a great divide. Trust me, it does not have to be that way. If you would just simply take time out of your busy schedule and do a last will and testament, it may save the family from strife and disenchantment. During my years of ministry, I have witnessed families fuss and fight from the time the love one becomes ill and they carry on for years after the funeral. It is almost unimaginable having siblings and family members not caring and loving on each other. Too often an inheritance that has not been properly denoted will cause great strife and tension.

We may claim to love each other, trust each other and even believe in each other, but sometimes greed causes us to lose sight of doing what is right. Tensions sometimes brew to the point that siblings and family members stop associating with each other.                       

What every person must remember is that what they have worked hard for all their lives belongs to them and they may decide to do whatever their hearts desires may be. The possessor has every right to do whatever they so see fit with their possessions. However, it must be done in such a way that there is no question regarding the integrity of a document left behind identifying how possessions are to be distributed. There should always be an attempt to do things in decency and order.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Another point taken from this pericope is that a good man has the resources and the ability to leave an inheritance.  We are mandated by God to leave an inheritance to our children and grandchildren. When we do so, we are a blessing to them.  May we honor the mandate in such a fashion that it will not create unnecessary tensions in the family.

My brothers and sisters, it is advised that we all get our houses in order. It is not only about our worldly possessions, but you may even cut down on the tension in the family when you have left a medical directive. The children will not have to make a decision for you if the time comes for a decision to be made about your living or dying. A personal representative should be assigned before a person even reaches the final moments of life.     

The Bible also says in Luke 12:15: “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Life is about more than money or worldly possessions. Believers, the Bible says, “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25). There are enough troubles that we have to deal with on a daily basis, therefore we should not wish to create unnecessary tensions.     

Sometimes tension has a tendency to set in because we know that we have not made that ultimate decision to make Jesus Christ as our Savior.  John 3:16 explains, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” More important than any worldly possession is our salvation.      

In closing, tensions are minimized when we just do the right things!

Just my thoughts!

Robert Earl Slade, Pastor