12 Steps To Leaving A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation

12 Steps To Leaving A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation

A legacy is not a resume or list of accomplishments.  A legacy is the imprint you leave on the future.  As a result, we all have a legacy.  And we will leave our legacy either by default or design.
On Sunday, April 26th, I will be teaching 12 Steps To Leaving A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation from I Chronicles 28 and 29.  Below is the outline I will be using.
As a member of INJOY Stewardship Solutions, I help churches create cultures of generosity and help them with their capital campaigns.  Those two chapters from I Chronicles are often our anchor passages.
Placed in the middle of these two chapters of vision casting, leadership development, inspiration, project management, sacrifice and celebration, is King David who nearing death looks at his son, the soon-to-be-king Solomon and says, “As for you, my son Solomon.”  And then begins to unpack and model how to leave a Godly legacy for the next generation.
It is a beautiful picture a father talking to his son just before death, a king to his son the would-be king, the patriarch of a family handing the baton to the next in line.  It is the picture of how to leave a Godly legacy.
The following are 12 Steps To Leaving A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation as modeled by King David to his son Solomon:

1. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Disciple Them – Instruct them.  Teach them.  In 28:9 David says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father.”  Leaving a Godly legacy means constantly telling the stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life.  Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise!”
2.  To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Encourage Them – The next generation is dying for inspiration.  Too often older people tell the next generation everything they are doing wrong.  David says in verse 10, “for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”
3. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Equip Them – You must give the next generation your plans, expertise, experience and energy.  This is what David does in verses 11 and 12 of chapter 28.
4. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Resource Them – Throughout verses 13-19, David provides and itemized list of the money and possessions he has left Solomon to complete the temple’s construction.  He also gives him people and their support in verse 21.
5. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Empower Them – People are naturally insecure.  It is vital they know you support them.  David tells Solomon in verse 20, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed for the Lord God – my God – will be with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”
6. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Position Them For Success – With the start of chapter 29, we see David shifting his communication to the Jewish people.  It says in verse 1, “King David said to all the assembly.”  In addition to giving the next generation plans and resources, you must also give them your platform.
7. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Publicly Reaffirm Them – Leaving a Godly legacy to the next generation means loaning them your influence.  Point to them and tell others God’s hand is on their life.  King David referred to his son as “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen.”
8. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Remind Them There Is Work Left For Them To Do – Transparency and authenticity are attractive qualities to the next generation.  Be honest with them.  Struggle is necessary for developing strength.  Do not downplay the challenges of the coming adult days.  King David continues, “(Solomon) is young and inexperienced, and the work is great.”
9. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Point Them To Jesus – David was about to remind his son all of this wealth and activity was not merely for his personal enjoyment.  This is not sustainable.  There must be a higher purpose, a higher calling in mind.  He said in verse 1 of chapter 29, “the temple is not for man, but for the Lord God.”
10. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Reassure Them – It is a humbling and daunting task to be thrust into significant positions of responsibility.  But King David reminded Solomon he had been setup for success.  The temple’s completion was doable.  In verses 2 and 3, King David lists everything which had already been prepared.  The project was well underway.
11. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Release Them – This is the day parents have worked years for but dread to see coming.  The time comes for the next generation to leave home and plant their own stake in the world.  In verse 5, King David asks the people, “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?”
12. To Leave A Godly Legacy To The Next Generation You Must Rejoice With Them – Upon releasing them, celebrate their success.  After an offering of biblical proportions, verse 9 says, “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.”

King David left a Godly legacy and an imprint on the future which we still benefit from today.  You too can send people forth into a time we cannot see with positive effects.  Which one of these 12 steps you can begin implementing today?