Ps Kathy Strong - North End Church, Te Awamutu

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Leaving a Legacy…….

It can sound like a scary word right?

When we think of leaving a legacy for our kids or the next generation, it can cause stress and leave us
feeling overwhelmed.

What if I leave a bad one?

What if it isn’t good enough?

I have nothing to leave?

I don’t have a lot of money!

A Legacy is defined in the dictionary as “Anything handed down from the past.” And so often, we think this means money, houses, cars or even a business.

But a legacy is not necessarily about wealth and worldly possessions. Sure, it can be, but a far greater legacy we can leave the next generation is to teach them about our ever-faithful God. To live a life that honours God in everything we do.

In Psalm 78, Asaph tells the history of the Jewish Nation from the time of slavery in Egypt to David’s reign. It was told over and over again to each generation so they would not forget God and make the same mistakes as their ancestors.

Psalm 78:4 reads “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.”

Teaching our kids about how awesome our God is, is the greatest legacy we can leave the next generation.

Now, this doesn’t have to be sitting down every night and reading from the Old King James by candle light as the children sit at your feet. It absolutely can be, if that is the way your family works! It’s great to read the stories in the Bible to see God’s faithfulness, but it is also great to tell your own stories. For our family, we love to sit around the dinner table and tell stories of God’s goodness in our lives:

“Remember that time we had no money and God provided food for us.”

“Remember that time we prayed for …. And they got healed.”

“Remember that time….”

“Remember that time….”

“Remember that time….”

Retelling stories of God’s goodness is the greatest legacy we can leave the next generation. And remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated!

I love how in the book of Joshua, he set up the 12 stones in Gilgal that he had taken from the Jordan and said “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ (Josh 4:20-21)

Visual reminders are a great way for us to remember God’s goodness in our lives, and for the next generation to also see. It can be a photo, a memento, or just something that can prompt you to tell stories of how amazing our God is. A journal is also a great way to record his goodness that can be handed down to future generations.

So when you think of leaving a legacy for your kids or the next generation, don’t get stressed or overwhelmed, wondering if you are leaving them enough. If you can leave them with stories of God’s grace and goodness, you are leaving them the best possible legacy.

Scriptures on Legacy:
Deut 6:5-9       Deut 12:28      Josh 4:21-22    Psalm 145:4    Prov 13:22      
Prov 22:6         Phil 4:8-9         2 Tim 2:2         3 John 1:4       

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