The Legacy We Leave

“How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere;  an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.” – Psalms 112:1-2.

What kind of legacy will you and your spouse leave? Will it be lasting? Will it be imperishable and eternal? Or will you leave behind only tangible items—buildings, money, and/or possessions? The apostle Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 to “…teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”  What are we passing on to the next generation? How does God want married couples to invest the time they have been given.   

In the day-to-day grind of life, we all have the potential of getting caught up in life’s hectic details and demands and can easily lose sight of whether we are leaving a Godly legacy to our children. Leaving a Godly legacy is our purpose as parents. 

In Exodus 20:6, God tells Moses: “But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” What we do matters because it can affect generations. When we as parents really understand that the things we do today affect the way our children remember their childhoods and mold who they are and how they see life – that’s when we get serious about making changes that create a Godly legacy.

A Godly legacy begins when we are intentional parents who create a home that honors God. Children thrive best in an atmosphere of genuine love and giving. As we have talked about all week, you will reap what you sow.  If you want your children to be truthful, then you need to be truthful. If you want them to serve others, let them see you serving. If you want them to have an authentic relationship with Jesus, show them what that looks like in your life. 

Giving and receiving is a fundamental part of life itself, so it applies to relationships. If we wish to receive, we must first give to others. The more we give, the more we will receive.

In order to reap the benefits of giving and receiving, you must enjoy the act of giving. Giving to your spouse and other relationships will build a lasting legacy.

Think and pray about it. We hope you will make it a goal to live your legacy as a spouse who constantly gave to a marriage without any expectation of return from your spouse. That way, you will leave behind a legacy of a godly marriage.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is there someone who has inspired you through their legacy? How did they impact your life? 
2. What is the legacy you inherited from your parents? How would you like to either pass it on or change it for the next generation?
3. Gaining a vision and a direction in life will yield significance to your mate’s life as well. Agree or disagree and why?
4. What are the top two or three steps we can take to build Godly relationships?