Building a legacy begins with keeping the next generation in mind. Too often we are shortsighted in our goals and confine our expectations to their impact in the foreseeable future. If we can train ourselves to think “Next Generation” in all that we do, our impact will last well beyond our lifetime. I saw this lived out in my Grandfather who was a true servant leader by investing in the lives of others. His legacy lives on today through the children of those he influenced. The Jewish people had this instilled in them through the repeating of the Shema recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4-9…
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
The fundamental truth that all Israelites needed to embrace was their commitment to love God with all their heart, soul and might and not chase after the false gods of the other nations. As long as Israel did this, God would bless them as a nation. Some generations fulfilled this commitment and some did not, but there was always a “remnant” in each generation who would pass this on to their children. They knew this truth was timeless and they were building a legacy by pouring themselves into the next generation.
Are you being this intentional about building your legacy today?
“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a
Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.”
~ Rev. Billy Graham