‘A good person leaves an inheritance.’ Proverbs 13:22 NIV
Ok, sure, it seems like way too early in life to think about how you want to be remembered after you’re gone. But it’s worth considering at strategic times. Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘I had a serious heart attack. That night as I lay on the floor waiting for an ambulance, I remember thinking two things: First, I was too young to die. Second, I had not completed some of the things I wanted to accomplish… One of the most beneficial outcomes of my heart attack experience was that it motivated me to ask myself, “What will my legacy be?” A legacy is something we leave behind to the next generation. It can be possessions that we place in the hands of others. It can be principles we lived that carry on beyond our lives. It also can be people we have influenced whose lives are better as a result of knowing us.’ Always try to keep these two things in mind:
(1) Today is all you’ve got. We all hope for a long life, but none of us knows if we’ll see tomorrow. ‘Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.’ (Proverbs 27:1 NIV)
(2) You will leave a legacy. A good person can leave a legacy that blesses the next two generations. ‘A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.’ So focus on being good and doing good, and ask yourself regularly, ‘How do I want to be remembered? When my time here runs out, will I continue to influence others for good and for God?’
SoulFood: 2 Chron 22–24, John 12:12–19, Ps 102:1–11, Pr 27:7–9
word4today an adaptation of The Word For Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2024
