Dave Ramsey is not known for soft answers, and this week he proved it again. A mother called his show and explained that she had spent more than $500,000 on her daughters’college educations, only to watch them become socialists. She asked whether she should still leave them an inheritance. Ramsey said no, calling socialists“parasites”and saying he is not going to fund rebellion against his Lord. The clip spread fast, and the debate is still going.
Pastor Josh Howerton weighed in on“Live Free with Josh Howerton,”and his take is more layered than the headlines suggest. He argues that disinheritance can be a biblically permissible response to serious rebellion, and there is support for the idea that parents are stewards, not just checkbooks. But he also pointed to the parable of the prodigal son and Romans 2:4, where it’s God’s kindness that leads people to repentance. Howerton admitted he and his wife are still working through what this means for their own will.
The story lands because almost everyone has a version of it at their own dinner table. Money, values, faith, and family all collide when a will gets involved, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some parents see an inheritance as a reward. Others see it as an unconditional gift. What matters is having the conversation before it becomes a courtroom.
Where do you land? Is an inheritance a reward, or a gift?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.