Inherited Debts?

I read my devotions from a denominational magazine, and Tuesday’s talked about how God’s heirs must expect and accept suffering. I agree with that point. However, the writer was obviously not a lawyer. He said that, as heirs to human estates, we may “inherit wealth or debts still owed.” That’s wrong. Although we may choose to be responsible for someone else’s debts, we don’t inherit them.

A better analogy might be inheriting a house that happens to be mortgaged. If we want the house, we may have to accept the debt that comes with it. However, nobody is required to accept an inheritance, and if we turn down the house we will avoid the debt as well. Still, if the value of the house is significantly greater than the mortgage, why would we reject it?

That’s what Holy Week tells us. If we want to inherit God’s house as his children, we have to accept suffering as well.

Romans 8:16-17 says:

¹⁶The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)

Jesus must have thought our salvation was worth everything He suffered on Good Friday. And although I don’t like to suffer, I am willing to accept the sufferings in this world to inherit the far greater glory of the next.

What about you?