But for anyone, the knowledge that we are going to die is also a reminder that we need to put our affairs in order. We need to make our peace with the Lord, we need to make sure we have forgiven everyone we think may have wronged us on this mortal coil. And we need to pay our debts.

And of course, we must make a will. There may be specific things we want to give to a special friend or relative, but we must consider what to do with the rest of our estate.

Most spouses will leave their estate to their partner, and thence to their children. This is a good thing. The Bible tells us that we should make sure we have left an inheritance for our children’s children (Proverbs 13:22) although this is not as important as spiritual inheritance and in any case inheritance can lead to greed (Luke 12:13–21).

We also know that nothing we do, say, build, create or write comes to anything on Earth, so sometimes it can be a bit of an ego thing to try to continue our possessions or acts via our last testament. However, you can use your estate to help others who are doing God’s will. We believe that the Right to Life Association of Western Australia is doing God’s will in defending life from conception to its natural end and we ask that you help us continue to do that through your estate.

Provide for your family. Give them what they need. And if you have any left over please consider a bequest to the RTLAWA.