Legacy – Planting a seed
In this blog we are exploring legacy, and what is the difference between legacy, inheritance and investment and are these biblical concepts at all.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6 v 19.20
We are meant to store up treasure, this is not material treasure but it much more than that. I think it is interesting that this passage falls in a whole chapter which is part of the sermon on the mount. In this chapter Jesus tells us that as disciples we are to give, we are to pray, we are to fast (just not like the pharisees) and we are not to worry. Just after the verse above it has the verse,
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. V24.
Often we don’t read these verses as a flow of the whole thing but if we do then it becomes clearer that the life of a disciple is not one focused on earthly things but one focused on treasures in heaven. A lifestyle of giving, fasting, prayer is one that sows into this treasure in heaven, while one that is focused on money, one of the earthly treasures -leads us to a place of worry.
Whats is the difference between Legacy and inheritance?
Inheritance is what we pass onto the next generation, it is a godly concept,
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly. Proverbs 13 v 22
Often that is our material possessions and any wealth we may have. Legacy is bigger than that, legacy is more than wealth and possessions, it’s the legacy our character leaves on the next generations, it’s the legacy that what we do with our lives. We don’t need to be dead to build legacy but it will certainly go on into the generations after us, whether it is a good or not legacy.
God always interested in generations… Exodus 34 v 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
While God absolutely loves the individual, He does have the big picture in mind. So how do we lead lives that create legacy, what does that even look like?
- Live from your Christ given identity – the world needs a people who know who they are and whose they are, not people puffed up with religion but people truly rooted in knowing who they are in Christ,
The message puts it wonderfully in the way it translates Matthew 5 v 48
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you ”
Powerful words – challenging words. If I am honest I think the last couple of years have shown that many Christians are very selfish and preoccupied with what they can get out of church, with how it serves their needs rather than wanting to be a contributing part of a church community.
- Live a life of purpose – my grandfather used to say “it’ll all be the same in a hundred years” and he was utterly wrong, our lives on this earth make a difference not just now but into eternity. It doesn’t mean that we have to be famous or well known, but it does mean we are to fulfil the purpose God has for you.
Last year Mercy, UK had an open day and Stuart and I went. We have been to Mercy many times but this time they shared a story of how there is a lady who writes to the girls and has done every month for years now. I can’t even remember the name of the lady but I do know she has been creating a legacy, she has been building up her treasure in heaven.
Or do you remember the film Hidden figures which is about 3 African American women who worked at NASA – and were instrumental in the US space program, none of them led celebrated lifes at the time because they of their race and gender.
If you don’t know your purpose – then do well the things that are in front of you no matter how small they may seem and God will show you through your diligience and obedience your purpose, Or come and have a purpose train session – see the store for more details!
- Live a life of faithfulness.
We do not need to be written about in a book, or posted about on social media or reported on the news for us to live lifes of legacy. We need to learn to lead lives where we are faithful to what God puts in front of us, where we learn to love the person in front of us, where we invest in the relationships around us by living generously and graciously to those around us.
If we look at Matthew 25 we find the often quoted verse ,
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
This verse in in the middle of the parable of the talents, where the master gives 5, 2 and 1 talent to each of his servant, goes away and then when he comes back he ask them what they have done. The ones with 5 and 2 talents have doubled and the master calls them good and faithful servants. The one with one talent hasn’t done anything with the talent, he his the talent and he receives the masters displeasure. The point of this is not about how many talents but that however much we have been given we are to invest it, to grow it. God has given you gifts, skills and abilities in an unique combination just for you, our job is not to hide those things but to use those things and in so doing we increase what He has given us.
In Thessalonians 2 v 19, 20 Paul says,
After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2 v 19,20
Why where the Thessalonians Pauls reward? They had been faithful to what he had taught them, they had held onto Christ.
If we lead lives where we are faithful to God, where we hold onto the Him whatever happens in life, where we choose to trust, where we are obedient to what God is asking us to do. Where instead of seeking worldy significance we choose to live generous, gracious faith filled lives then I believe we will build legacy. It’s like generosity, graciousness are the investment that create legacy…
Ever since I was a little girl when I gave my life to Jesus I have had a sense of leading my life for a bigger purpose, I wouldn’t of understood the word legacy back then but I knew that following God’s call on my life was bigger than just what happens to me. When Stuart and I were raising our 3 children it was that sense that helped me through on days where it was exhausting and tiring, the sense that what I poured into each of my children would help them be world changers, and that they would be part of the legacy I have.
It has certainly been a motivator in my adult decisions – when we have had to make decisions thinking about legacy has affected those choices. When it would have been easy to give up on God’s call on our lives we knew if we did we would be building the wrong legacy.
Have you ever heard of Mordecai Ham? No he was the travelling evangelist that led Billy Graham to the Lord – Billy Graham who then led 100, 000’s to God. We wont all be well known names but we can all lead lives of legacy,
We do that by leading a life of identity, a life of purpose and a life of faithfulness…
So what legacy are you investing into? Which people are you investing into?
There is an old chinese proverb that says, ” Legacy is planting a seed, to grow a tree for a generation you will never see to find shade under. ”
So what seeds are you planting?
Written by Liz Gregg – if you want to hear her speak on this go to Celebrate church podcasts and look up a talk on Legacy
