Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tue, 24 Mar 2015
Dave Thompson

King Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

Mike Smith, a 2007 graduate of Liberty University School of Law, is perhaps more familiar with that idea than many people.

In 2003, Smith didn’t even know a lawyer, much less have any intention of going to law school or practicing in the field.

“The Lord just pulled me into law,” Smith said of a few seemingly coincidental meetings that got him thinking about his path and how he would integrate his desire to share Christ with whatever career he chose.

That career turned out to be estate planning, and through his experiences, Smith has found a strong desire to impart biblical wisdom to those wondering what to do with their estates when they die.

“Regardless of your profession, sometimes I think it can be hard, to figure out how that profession fits with advancing God’s kingdom and sharing the gospel to a broken world,” Smith said.

And in his latest project, Smith has found another vehicle for advancing godly wisdom. In February, he published his first book, “Leaving a Lasting Legacy: A Christian’s Handbook for Gift and Estate Planning.”

In the book, Smith stresses the spiritual aspects of leaving a legacy over the financial aspects.

“I hope it becomes a tool for individuals that want to use their estate planning to make an impact for the kingdom,” he said of the book.

“The financial legacy is important. The spiritual legacy is eternal.”

One of his favorite examples of that is the life and death of Jonathan Edwards and his wife Sarah, who left little money to their children, but gave them a lasting legacy of lives dedicated to Christ.

Edwards fathered 11 children, and many went on to careers as college presidents, professors, lawyers, judges, physicians, public office holders including senators, mayors, governors, a vice president and a controller of the United States Treasury, according to author A. E. Winship. Edwards' descendants also included many ministers, and over 100 overseas missionairies.

“The only thing Jonathan and Sarah Edwards left their children was Christ,” Smith said, invoking the words of author Ruth E. Renkel: “Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.”

Practically, Smith said, he advises his clients to be generous with their money and resources, tithing to the church, both locally and internationally, to leave an example of generosity for their successors and to further the Gospel.

He calls it “Great Commission estate planning,” after Christ’s admonition for all believers to spread the knowledge of Him throughout the world. That impact is worth having a little less money in the coffers, Smith said.

“The kids are going to be fine with 90 percent, much better off than they probably would have been with 100 percent.”

Smith started his own practice years ago when he lived in Tennessee, and after two years in Colorado Springs, he has started another practice, the Veritas Law Group, focusing on estate planning, business law, probate and asset protection.

And though his clientele isn't exclusively Christian, Smith’s philosophies are firmly rooted in his faith.

“It’s not the kind of estate planning that the world is going to engage in because they don’t understand it,” Smith said.

“The purpose of this book, the purpose of this new law practice is to share with people that Christ is our inheritance. The new covenant, being the gospel, is what we are supposed to pass on to our kids and to future generations.”