Most people consider what they want to be known for, but I do not hear most people considering what they will leave behind. Even still when considering one's legacy one rarely talks of how what they do, or leave will impact those who will be here after one no longer walks the earth. Of course, it only makes sense as fallen man is inclined to his own self-interest. I was reading the book "What He Must Be...If He Wants To Marry My Daughter" by Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr. and I came across the following passage.
I looked at my children and told them something that I have since said to them no less than a hundred times. "Kids, you must seek to become the kind of people who plant shade trees for others to sit under." I went on to explain how people in the past had sacrificed in order for us to enjoy virtually everything we had. We talked about our Founding Fathers, about brave African slaves, and even about grandparents. I'm not sure how much of that day's lesson sank in with the children. However, since then I have been trying to teach the same lesson in myriad ways. We constantly talk about living our lives in such a way that we plant spiritual shade trees for the benefit of others. We use phrases like multigenerational vision and legacy. As our children get older and anticipate their future, they are beginning to understand that life is more about the here and now. They are beginning to catch the vision.
Though rarely done by most of our population it is important to consider how what we are leaving will impact the future, and I would like to share from a Biblical perspective why it is so.
The Communal Nature of Man
The newer generations are reporting to be lonelier and more depressed, and in an age of self-interest where the great aim is to seek satisfaction in anything but God and their fellow man, it would be wise to heed the words of my maternal grandmother who has said on numerous occasions "Men and women need each other." The cultures insistence on pushing further and further into isolationism is bad for the flourishing of humanity as a whole. Why, because man was created to be communal with God and each other. I would not believe it is so necessary to teach this except for the fact that within the Christian community I keep hearing professing believers say, "As long as you have God, you don't need anyone else." Let us look then to the first man who was created before the world was fallen. Genesis 2:18 reads, "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him.'" This portion of Adam's life story is the catalyst for why God would create woman and establish the pattern of the family for man, but it also speaks to how humans are created with the need for other people. So, to the Christian who says they only need God, if Adam who had God needed others, what makes you think you are any different? So, how does our communal nature matter when considering what we leave behind when we die and how it impacts the future? Consider the various skills and talents in the world. If there was only one heart surgeon in the world and he did not pass down the instructions to successfully perform a heart surgery, when he dies the skill would be lost unless someone somehow re-discovered it by accident. If there was only one carpenter and he did not pass down his skills, once he dies the skill is lost to time, and so it would be with all skills. Even the concept of the hospital was just an idea at one point until someone built it revolutionizing how we consider care for the ill, as there was now a place to go instead of just waiting for the doctor to come to you. Even consider the arts! Without the music of artists like The Winans, Commissioned, Helen Baylor, Shai Linne, Crossmovement, Hazakim, etcetera to remind of God's goodness and inspire pushing forward with daily task life would just be less enjoyable.
The Duty of Man To Provide
Aside from the good benefits we see of good things being left behind for future generations. We must consider what we leave behind as it is man's duty. 1 Timothy 5:8 reads, "But if any man does not provide for his own, especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Often, I have seen this passage paired with 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which is the verse known for if a man does not work, he should not eat, in order to emphasize the need of a man to work so he can provide for his family while he lives, and no one would argue against this. However, I believe it is Biblically supported that a man must provide beyond his wife and children but to his grandchildren. Look to the first half of Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children," My late father had a desire to protect his family at all costs, and he worked daily to make sure our needs were met. He was never sure that he would be able to leave us material possessions when he left, but he would do everything he could for our best, and it is because of this that my siblings and I continue to work hard to care for our future generations. It is in this way, passing on his work ethic that my dad cared for his children and now his grandchildren are cared for. This does not just apply to those who are married with children, but even the single and childless must consider what they are leaving in the world that can benefit society as a whole. God has endowed the single and childless with gifts and talents that can be passed on to future generations in a way that they might not expect. I think of Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth who while single for decades used her talent to further teach Christian women, and after getting married in her mid to late fifties she continues doing the good work she was called to and impacting the lives of thousands of women. Though I am unsure if this woman is single or not, it is also good to look to Champale Anderson a mother in Missouri who would feed children in her neighborhood before and after school.
The Type of Legacy Left
This all beckons the question of what type of legacy should one leave. I mentioned earlier that my father was not assured he could leave material possessions, and I know there is a fear among many that material possessions are impossible to attain let alone to leave to the future generation. The problem is that as humans we are inclined to think in material as far as what is left behind, but the primary thing one leaves behind is their example. Ask yourself what is the reputation you have? Are you known for being caring? Are you known for being a hard worker? Or are you known just for what you have accumulated? Do you set an example that it is important to sacrifice for the good of others or do you merely seek self-interest and see people as merely disposable pawns in the path of achieving what you want? Secondly it is important to encourage the future generation to be societally minded about how they can use their skills and talents.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," It is not for this reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," It is not for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
1 Corinthians 14:1-21
This passage I have often heard to support that as Christians we all have our place in the body of Christ, but we can use this example for the whole of society. Each member of the household is important to the home, and each citizen to their town. We all benefit when we use our skills and talents for more than just ourselves. If something is lacking in your community and you do not know anyway that need can be met, perhaps in the future generation God is raising up the talent to fulfill that need. However, the needs of the people cannot be met if we teach everyone that they all must go the same course and follow the exact same pattern for life. I did mention that earlier we are inclined to think materially concerning legacy, and do not misunderstand me materials are needed. God will bless a man with material possessions, and he can use those to God's glory and the benefit of humanity as part of his legacy. No matter if his material possessions are very little or very great, but one should not make the end goal for possessions can be gained and lost.
The Most Important Legacy
Lastly, but ultimately, as Christians what we should care about is leaving a legacy of the Gospel. We should spread the truth of God's word. The reason we should care for others and benefitting our future generations is because Christ has left us a legacy of hope in His resurrection that there is life beyond the grave and this world in its fallen state is passing a way, but that everything will be restored to its rightful place. When our first father, Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he forsook life. He chose himself and did not consider the curse that would be brought on his children of sin and death. That was the legacy he left us with, and as sinners we must resist the urge to continue the pattern of only caring for ourselves. Instead for those of us who are in Christ we have eaten from the true tree of life, Christ and we can rest in his shade for eternity and persevere in this world for as long as He gives us breath here. We can walk boldly knowing one day we all will be raised, and the world will be restored to its rightful place and sin and death will no longer exist. May God bless you as you go about considering your legacy and planting your own shade trees to the glory of God.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ we will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
~Mrs. Sarchet ~
