· “Legacy” = something handed down or passed down from one generation to next.
· Can be material eg money, property.
· Can be non-material eg values, experiences, example.
· Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance (legacy) to his children’s children.
· “A good man” Þ His values and priorities and character are good.
· He is a producer not a consumer. He plans for the future.
· An inheritance left to children can be lost if they don’t know how to manage it.
· A good man trains his children so values and skills are transferred generation to generation.
· What legacy will you leave?
· What influence imparted to grandchildren?
· Does not occur by accident – must be planned.
Story:
Two prominent Oil Company Executives died suddenly in a small plane crash. At the funeral friends and associates honoured him.
“Amazing; committed to excellence; accomplishments for Company and Community”.
One teen son: “Wished I had something good to say but don’t (tears)”. “Wished I knew the man everyone talked about but didn’t”.
Father’s priorities were wrong – no real heritage to grandchildren.
· Proverbs 4:1-4 “Hear the instruction of a father … I was my father’s son, he taught me also.”
· David had passed on a legacy to his son Solomon – wisdom and insight.
· Solomon is now passing on that legacy to his own son.
1 Chronicles 28:9-12 David’s legacy to his son
i) Personal Life Example
· vs9 “The God of your father”.
· David loved God and lived a God honouring life.
· David experienced the faithfulness of God through is life.
· His personal life modelled/was an example for Solomon to follow.
ii) Personal Instruction
· Proverbs 4:4 “he taught me also”.
· David invested time into his son Solomon – quality time.
· David instructed him in the ways and values of God.
· David taught him what God is like (1 Chronicles 28:9).
iii) Personal Direction
· David gave strong direction to Solomon concerning his future:
a) Priority of a strong relationship with God
· vs9 “Know the God of your father”
· “Know” = Be intimate with.
· vs9 “Serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind”
· He warned him of the dangers of wrong priorities.
· He instructed him in priorities – centering life on God.
b) Destiny
· He explained the purpose and call of God upon his life.
· vs10 “Chosen” = calling of God upon him – personal choice required.
· vs10 “Build = must become productive, invest and produce.
· vs10 “Build a house for God”:
- construct your life so presence of God can fulfil
- build personal life so carry presence of God
- build family life so reflects God’s order, presence
- build local church – the extended family of God
c) Character
· vs11,20 “Be strong and do it”
· “Strong” (2388 Strongs) = to fasten upon, have coverage, conquer.
· David encouraged him in need to focus his life and develop his character so he would complete what he started.
· “Do it” = David encouraged him to personal obedience, to fulfil all the purpose of God upon his life.
iv) Resources
· David provided the resources for Solomon to build.
· vs12 He gave him patterns which God had given him by revelation.
· vs12 He gave him divine blueprints for his life’s work.
· Ch 29:12 He also gave him the finances needed to do the work.
· “A good man leaves an inheritance (legacy) to his grandchildren” Proverbs 13:22
· What legacy are you leaving for the next generation?
· What time, thought, effort putting in to invest in the next generation?
· What spiritual values?
· What priorities?
· What insights?
· Greatest legacy you can have is spiritual, eternal – relationship with God.