Building a lasting legacy is every parent’s desire right from conception; parents are determined to give their best to their children. While we are alive with our children, we do not want them to suffer or lack any good thing and much more while we are away from them either because of distance, old age, or being called home to be with the Lord. We desire that our children have all they need at all times. This desire makes us, as parents, want to build a lasting legacy for our children while we are with them, solid and agile.
Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”
While many parents aim to leave behind physical wealth for their children, it’s crucial to remember that worldly possessions are fleeting. The scriptures remind us that everything in this world is temporary, reinforcing the need for a more lasting legacy.
1 John 2:17: “And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.”.
Whether we leave a legacy of money in the bank, power, position, authority, houses, and many more to our children, they will not last.
Therefore, our priority should be building a lasting legacy with our children so that we can leave one for them. What is a lasting legacy, and how can we make one?
Table of Contents
A LASTING LEGACY
Matthew 6:19-21,” Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal.”
The Bible encourages us to build up our treasures in heaven, where they cannot be stolen or destroyed. However, these lasting legacies are godly virtues and values that the word of the Lord teaches us. They include the godly virtues of Love, faithfulness, truthfulness, trustworthiness, fear of the Lord, contentment, loving God, Loving others, Faith and Trust in God, and many more.
When we instill these godly virtues in our children’s lives, we are not just storing lasting legacies in heaven for them. We are also providing them with a solid foundation, a source of security and peace that will guide them throughout their lives. We can rest assured that our children, their children, and even their generation will never lack anything good they desire from the Lord.
Proverbs 3:1: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,”
The heart of a child is a fertile ground for cultivating lasting legacies. As parents, it’s our duty to sow the seeds of godly virtues in their hearts through our teachings and, more importantly, our actions. This nurturing process is a lifelong commitment that ensures our children stay on the path of righteousness.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it”
Building a lasting legacy
Building a lasting legacy for our children is not a task to be taken lightly. It requires our intentional, consistent, and committed efforts as parents. We may be faced with many distractions in our adult lives, but if we truly desire to build a lasting legacy for our children, we must be unwavering in our commitment to the stewardship of parenting. After all, children are the Lord’s heritage, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
1. Build a legacy of the Word of God
Deuteronomy 11:18-20
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
We, as parents, need to be committed to the studying and living of the word of God so that we can teach it to our children.
We must cultivate an exemplary godly life that our children can live after. Teaching them the word of God and encouraging them to obey as they see us living the word of God will help them understand that all they need to navigate through life successfully is the word of God, whether we are around them or not.
2. Build a legacy of contentment.
1Timothy 6:6 “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” NLT
Teach your children to live a life of contentment. Teach them to be grateful to God for all they have and live in contentment. A lustful desire for the things of the world, which do vanish away, can lead them astray from God. This does not overrule their desire for ambition or becoming great in life; however, you should make them understand that they can have all that they desire in Christ by living a life of contentment.
3. Build a legacy of Love for God
Mark 12:30-31: “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Helping our children to understand how much God loves them will help them overcome the hostility that perverts the world around them.
Romans 5:5: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Help your children know they need to respond to the Love of God towards them by Loving God and Loving others. The Love of God in their heart will enable them to give themselves for service and stewardship, which is required of every child of God. Embracing a servant’s heart through the Love of God guarantees their greatness in life.
Luke 22:26: “26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest and the one who leads like the one who serves.”
4. Build a legacy of Righteous living
Isaiah 54:13-14 “Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.
14 In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, for you will have no fear. Terror will be far removed, for it will not come near you.”
Jesus Christ is the righteous king,
Isaiah 32: 1” See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.” And he wants us to live a life of righteousness even with our children.
Job 36:7 “He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.”
5. Building a lasting legacy of the fear of the Lord
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” NIV
Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” NIV
PROVERB 10:27: “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”
The fear of the Lord does not have the dread that God will strike us with thunder anytime we sin; it’s living in the consciousness of a loving God who is always present with us and desires the best for us. When our children live in the fear of God, it will help them to live right in this evil and perverted world permanently. The fear of the Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for living a purposeful and fulfilled life.
Bottomline
Make this confession as you determine to build and leave a lasting legacy for your children and children’s children.
Isaiah 8:18: “Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion” Berean Standard Bible.
Conclusion
Building a lasting legacy for our children goes beyond material possessions. It involves instilling godly virtues, such as love, faithfulness, and contentment, in their lives. Our commitment to teaching and living the word of God and cultivating a life of contentment and love for God will leave an enduring impact on our children and the generations to come. If you would like further support and guidance on building a lasting legacy for your children, seek support at thelivingemeralng@gmail.com. Remember, your efforts today can shape a legacy that lasts for eternity.
