You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT
Those who leave legacies that bless the future and the recipients are able to do so because of the mindset they choose and develop. If you want to be in that group, it requires evaluating, making certain you are succeeding at the right things. For instance, when I was a young wife, Charlie and I visited a Shaker settlement from the early 1880s. I was fascinated by a cross-stitch sampler on a wall in an otherwise very plain home: “No other success will compensate for failure in the home.” I couldn’t get away from that statement. I knew I was called to ministry, but as we built a family, I wanted to make certain nothing took priority over what needed to happen in my home. Now all these years later, I am so thankful for this early clarifying evaluation. What will be most important?
After that, it’s vital to work with God to figure out the purpose to fulfill, the contribution to make, and the specific legacy God has equipped me to leave. Begin with the end in mind. Think about the end of your life and what you want to be true on the day you leave this planet. What would you like to be said at your memorial service? What would you hope your children and grandchildren recall about you? What would be the state of faith in the people you love the most? How well equipped do you want them to be to continue to pass on faith and character to the next generation? Bring seriousness and intentionality to your consideration.
Then decide intentional, concrete steps you will take to leave that legacy. That will require considering the resources you have and how to steward them well, and then how to convey your stewardship to the people who need to know and understand why you do what you do. Think about how you will share stories of God’s faithfulness in your life and in the life of your family. You want to make sure your family knows your story of faith and sees you live it out.
The bottom line of the legacy mindset is faithfulness. You can’t leave a legacy in a day. You leave a legacy with daily living. Faithfulness is the heart of legacy. It is the idea that we’ll be faithful with what we’ve been given and Who we’ve been given every day in the small daily decisions, sacrifices, and investments. When faithfulness becomes our core, a positive legacy is guaranteed.
- Legacy is far more about mindset than it is about money. It is agreeing with God that I have a wealth of resources to invest in the people He has put in my path, and I will be faithful to invest them well through my daily choices.