I have a few friends and family members in my orb who have wonderful safety nets in their lives called “trust funds”.
I have to admit that I was a young adult before I even heard the phrase “trust fund” - older still when I fully understood what one was and its benefits.
A trust fund is an investment tool that parents, grandparents, or others can set up for their heirs (or others). Often there is some type of “triggering” event that opens the door to the funds as a whole or to funds that come in over time. This “trigger” event might be the age of the person receiving the benefits, such as when a child turns 21, or when the young adult finishes college.
One person in my orb quit her job at age 41 never to return to the workforce when the “trust fund” kicked in. Another receives enough every month to help pay the rent and utilities so that that burden is lifted from him as he pursues his dreams.
In some families, these trusts are viewed not as a way to give the next generation a ticket to Bali but as a way to create security so that the next generation “has it better”. One generation works at one level to move the next generation ahead to the next. In other words, the riches continue to flow through, hopefully creating security for the next generation.
This theme isn’t limited to trust funds. The same can be said of one generation laying a foundation so that the next generation can live their lives at a different “level”.
I think John Adams captured this best in a letter he wrote to his wife in which he said,:
“I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”
Likely, today we would list different fields of study or expressions of art on these various tiers to higher meaning—but you get the point. You build today so that those who follow you have more freedom of expression because they don’t have to build the basic foundation again.
What some do not understand today is that the foundation of much of what is good in our society was built on Christian faith. It was the rock solid legacy—dare I say Trust Fund—that was handed to the next generation, on which they “moved society up a notch,” expressing their love of Christ, their gifts from Him, through the construction of hospitals and schools, the development of orphanages, fighting for the dignity of women and children, feeding the hungry, and so much more.
No societies before had ever elevated the disadvantaged, women, and children as did those with the foundation of Christian faith. None. Why is that?
Here is the crux of it:
When you serve a Lord Who died for you, Who professes His never ending love for you, you know longer have to look for your security in yourself and your own efforts. You find it in Him. And so, He becomes your security. Your solid foundation.
And, this—and only this—allows you to throw away your need to focus on yourself and instead focus on others.
You serve a Lord Who says, “Follow Me” -and proceeds to live His brief life healing the sick, uplifting the disenfranchised, washing dirty feet. And, He gives you the desire and strength to do likewise.
Jesus is our trust fund. He is the Foundation that moved large swaths of people to set aside their lives and serve others. Non-Christians may follow the examples that others set but, I believe, without the True Foundation, you will see these efforts dwindle and fade. We are already seeing these signs around us.
We flourish when we stand on this True Foundation.
Then, we have the strength and security set aside ourselves and focus on the needs of others.
Allow Him to be your foundation today and always.
For yourself.
For those around you.
For this nation.
For this world.
There is no better trust fund.