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Legacy 1

            A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.  (Proverbs 13:22)

            Legacy: 1) Money or property you receive from someone after they die; 2) Something that remains from part of your history or that remains from a previous time.

            Originally, legacy was associated with a rank or position that was delegated. There might, or might not, be land or wealth involved, but the title or responsibility were. Today, it seems to have more to do with a contribution to the general good, or the basis on which one’s reputation after death is based. There doesn’t seem to be much in Scripture that speaks of a legacy. Tomorrow’s verse is the only one that uses the word. But there are a few references to “children’s children,” starting with today’s.

            The challenge of today’s verse is that its surface understanding is all about money. The suggestion is that if you are good, you’ll be wealthy enough to leave lots of money for your grandchildren, and if you’re evil, what you have will end up in the hands of good people, not your children or their children. In both cases, we seem to be talking about rich people. This doesn’t fit with the idea that good people get rich, and evil people go bankrupt. But on the surface, it doesn’t connect with anyone who is poor. While Scripture acknowledges the existence of wealth that is based on money or land, it also repeatedly describes God as an inheritance, and admonishes parents to impart wisdom and knowledge to one’s children. A legacy or one’s wealth need not be pecuniary (relating to or consisting of money).

            In fact, the way today’s verse is stated, that a good man leaves an inheritance and the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous, can easily be understood as sinners having nothing of value to give to their children, even if they have money. One’s legacy not only shouldn’t be limited to money, but can’t be. Those who focus on money as a legacy end up leaving none to the very people they hope will benefit from it. This is where I also have to repeat my chorus of “not magical.” This is described in a way that makes it clear that it’s a natural process rather than something imposed by God. As such, it might not be as immediate as one, or even two generations, but, it is inevitable.

            All of that brings us to the question of our legacies. To whom are we leaving it? The passage assumes children, but children can be biological (our usual assumption) or spiritual and ideological. Our legacy can be money or anything else we have in abundance. Our legacy to the world may be our children, words, labor, talents, service, thoughts, good, or evil, business, donations to charity, wisdom, knowledge, etc. The key is that it is something that you give to your children and your children’s children. What’s yours? What is it reasonable that you could build one?

            At the moment, I don’t foresee my legacy as pecuniary. I don’t expect to get rich enough to leave money when I die. I’m just hoping not to leave debts. I would be thrilled to leave a legacy of ideas. I’ve said before that one of the reasons I like to write and speak is because once in a while, something good comes out of my mouth or fingers. And I have begun a legacy in that direction. Another legacy I have been building is a cleaner and more environmentally friendly neighborhood. I pick up litter and I garden. I wish I could say that I’m leaving a legacy of conversions to Christ or other “great works” of the faith, but that doesn’t seem to be where my riches lie.

            What are your areas of legacy? Feel free to share if you wish,  but the main people I want  you to share this information with are  yourself and God. 

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