My Dad Thinks The Lord Will Return Before He Dies So He Doesn't Need A Will

Summary

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The Ramsey Show Highlights – Episode Summary

Episode Title: My Dad Thinks The Lord Will Return Before He Dies So He Doesn't Need A Will
Date: November 28, 2025
Podcast: The Ramsey Show Highlights (Ramsey Network)
Host: George Kamel & Dr. John Delony (C) (with a caller, A)

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Overview

This episode centers on a heartfelt question from a caller (A), who seeks advice about persuading his father—a devout Christian and successful, debt-free property owner—to create a will and estate plan. The father’s belief: the Lord will return before he dies, so estate planning is unnecessary. The hosts, George and Dr. John, explore effective and compassionate ways to approach this sensitive topic, with practical and emotional considerations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller’s Dilemma: Faith vs. Practicality

• Caller (A) expresses concern about his father’s lack of a will, rooted in strong religious conviction that “the Lord will return before I die.”
• The father has a significant estate—multiple rental properties, no debt, and a legacy of service through his construction business.

2. How to Approach the Conversation

• Dr. John Delony (C) suggests leading with love and respect, affirming the father’s character and achievements:
  • “Watching you do life has been one of the greatest learning lessons and, like, coolest things any son could ever have.” (01:40)
  • Recommends asking as a personal favor: “Would you do me the honor… of putting this stuff down in writing on the off chance? Because you’re not going to convince him, right?” (02:23)
• Logical persuasion about probabilities is unlikely to work—appeal to emotion and family unity instead.

3. Family Conflict and Practical Hazards

• The hosts highlight that, with 10 siblings, dividing the estate without a will poses immense risk for disputes:
  • “The calls we take on the show where 10 siblings are involved dividing up a very complicated estate never ends well. It ends with relational resentment.” (03:46 – B: George)
• Extended family and in-laws multiply complications:
  • “Getting 10 signatures to simply sell one $110,000 rental property is a nightmare.” (04:24 – C: Dr. John)
  • Joking: “It’ll be a reality show on HGTV, I’ll tell you that much.” (04:39 – B)

4. Appealing to His Values: Stewardship and Government

• Government Angle:
  • “He loves the government action… He trusts the government to handle all of his estate planning right now.” (03:17 – B)
  • Highlights the risk of leaving decisions to court or state processes (probate, estate taxes).
• Biblical Stewardship:
  • “Even if Jesus returns tomorrow, Scripture still calls us to be wise stewards today because we don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring.” (03:28 – B)
• Focus on family unity:
  • “I want my brothers and sisters… to all stay united after you pass… you’re almost guaranteeing that y’all will all dissolve your relationship…” (04:52 – C)

5. Underlying Emotional Factors

• The hosts empathize with the father’s reluctance—possibly driven by discomfort with mortality and desire to remain in control:
  • “It might be a protective measure for him… the thought of passing away is so heavy that it’s easier to create a story…” (05:19 – C)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trying to Reason with Faith:

  • “You’re not going to make a rational argument. He’s going to be like, ‘You know what? You’re right.’ He’s not going to do that.” (02:37 – C)

• On Family Chaos:

  • “Getting 10 signatures to simply sell one $110,000 rental property is a nightmare.” (04:24 – C)
  • “It’ll be a reality show on HGTV, I’ll tell you that much.” (04:39 – B)

• On Unintended Consequences:

  • “What a way to pit brother against brother, and sister against sister… because they tripped and fell on one of the houses…” (06:01 – C)

• On Authentic Stewardship:

  • “Scripture still calls us to be wise stewards today because we don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring.” (03:28 – B)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:22]–[02:23]: Dr. John advises on approaching Dad with affirmation and a gentle personal request.
• [02:57]–[03:24]: Discussion of family size and the government’s role if there’s no will.
• [03:28]–[04:24]: The practical perils of probate, arguing from faith and stewardship.
• [04:39]: Humorous take on real estate chaos (“reality show on HGTV”).
• [05:16]–[05:52]: Reflecting on hardship of discussing mortality and control.
• [06:01]–[06:43]: Closing thoughts on legacy, stewardship, and the risks of leaving things unresolved.

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Tone & Approach

The conversation is warm, humorous, deeply respectful, and peppered with empathy for the caller’s family dynamics and the father's beliefs. The hosts blend practical estate planning advice with appeals to faith, stewardship, and family harmony.

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Conclusion

The episode offers practical, compassionate strategies for discussing estate planning when faith creates unique barriers. The hosts suggest affirming the father’s values, gently expressing personal and family needs, and pointing out both spiritual and pragmatic reasons for planning ahead—always with an emphasis on unity and stewardship. The dialogue is relatable, insightful, and provides actionable guidance for anyone facing similar conversations.

Transcript

[A]

Zander shops all the top term insurance companies to save you money. Get [e-mail]. well, I'm calling about my father. He's. He's been a Christian for probably nearly 50 years. He spends his life, you know, every day serving people. That's his calling. And he owned a construction business for something like 35 years. And during that time, he's. He's acquired a lot of rental properties, all debt free. And the issue is, what I'm calling you today, talk about is that he doesn't have a will or an estate plan. And he said that he doesn't need one because he believes that the Lord will return before his death or, you know, during his lifetime. Okay, so, so how do I encourage him to do that without making it feel like, you know, he's questioning his own faith? And who am I to do that?

[B]

You know, what date does he have in mind? Can he tell me when the Lord would be arriving?

[A]

No, no, he. No, he doesn't have any date or anything like that.

[B]

Just before it will be during, he croaks. He's like, it's definitely going to happen before I pass.

[A]

Yeah, that's what he.

[B]

But he knows that he has good authority.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

All right, here's what I would say. Dude, this is. This is a very tough situation. I would sit down with him and say, dad, like, watching you do life has been one of the greatest learning lessons and, like, coolest things any son could ever have. I've watched you serve people. I've watched you probably. He probably gives rent below market value, right? He probably takes care of people. Is that true?

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

Yeah. So, like, if you lead off this conversation by saying, like, watching how you serve your local community and you go make money and you figured out how to do both of those well, and you've dedicated your life to God, like, all that's amazing. It's been a high privilege being your son. Can I ask one thing of you? In the event. In the event that something does happen to you before the Lord returns, this would be a huge mess for me.

[A]

All right.

[C]

Would you do me the honor and because some people think wills are for them, would you do me the honor of putting this stuff down in writing on the off chance? Because you're not going to convince him, right? Like, you're not going to make a rational argument. He's going to be like, you know what?

[A]

You're right.

[C]

He's not going to do that. And so really, what you're. What you're appealing to, in this moment, is your sense of discomfort. Yeah, that's. That, to me, is the only shot you got. Do you have siblings?

[A]

Yeah, there's ten. Ten of us.

[B]

That sounds fun. So how does he feel about the government?

[A]

He's not. Not a fan.

[B]

Well, he is a fan because he's letting the government decide what happens with his estate.

[C]

That's the way to say it.

[A]

Yeah, you're right. I've talked to him.

[B]

He loves the government action selling us. He trusts the government to handle all of his estate planning right now. Yeah, he's hired him out.

[A]

Yeah, you're right.

[C]

And they're happy to do whatever they want with his property.

[B]

They're happy to take his probate fees on top of his estate taxes as all this unfolds. So here's what I would say. Even if Jesus returns tomorrow, Scripture still calls us to be wise stewards today because we don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. And so you can appeal with that. You can appeal with the government angle. You can appeal with the mark wants it for security and peace of mind angle. Because here's what we do know. The calls that we take on the show where 10 siblings are involved dividing up a very complicated estate never ends well. It ends with relational resentment.

[C]

And Even if all 10 of y' all are on the same page, which there's zero percent chance of that. Right?

[A]

Yeah, right. Right.

[C]

It's those 10. And y' all have all married other people.

[A]

You're right.

[C]

And they all have cousins. And they all think that by marrying into a construction empire empire that they're gonna suddenly get rich.

[B]

And Uncle Randy wants a piece because he helped him with that deal one time.

[C]

That's right. He told me. He promised me and bro getting 10 signatures to simply sell one $110,000 rental property is a nightmare.

[B]

It'll be. It'll be a reality show on hgtv. I'll tell you that much.

[A]

Right? Yeah. That's my biggest fear, you know, is causing issues amongst the family.

[C]

Have you told him that? Because that's another big one. Dad. I want to. I want.

[A]

Know that I have.

[C]

I want this family. I want my brothers and sisters. I want us to all stay united after you pass. In the event you pass before Jesus returns, I want us to all stay united. And this will be tough. Like, you're almost guaranteeing that y' all will all dissolve your relationship in some shape, form, or fashion.

[A]

Right.

[C]

I hate that you're in this situation, man, because your dad sounds like a pretty amazing guy, he's just got this thing in his mind that's pretty tough, and it might be a protective measure for him because he doesn't want to. He has been a pretty strong guy and a guy that's always been in control of who he's giving and his own company and all that. And the thought of being in a hospital bed, the thought of passing away is so heavy that it's easier to create a story that. No, no, I. I know it's going to happen. Which the. If Scripture's pretty clear, you don't have any idea when it's going to come. Nobody does.

[A]

Right, Right. Right.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, hopefully, if he hears this, maybe this will help persuade him.

[B]

I hope so, man.

[C]

Yeah, send him. Yeah, send him the call. Send him a call. Because, I mean, George and I are both sitting here. What an amazing guy. What an amazing legacy he's left. And what. What a way to pit brother against brother, and sister against sister. Or brother's wife's cousin suing everybody because they tripped and fell on one of the houses in their.

[B]

You know what I'm saying?

[C]

It's just, golly, what a recipe for dissension among your family tree that you spent so much time watering and growing.

[A]

Right?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

There's so much out of his control, and yet there's so much in his control.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And this is one of the things he can control during his time left here on Earth. And I hope it's a long one.

[A]

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