WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND

" 'After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: 'Don’t be afraid, Abram. I’m your shield. Your reward will be grand!' Abram said, 'God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I’m childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?' Abram continued, 'See, you’ve given me no children..." - Genesis 15:1-3

​I recall that I was appalled. I had just finished being part of a conversation where a nationally known faith leader had commented that "Legacy is everything - I mean all that really matters is what they say about you after you're gone, right?" It wasn't said as a joke. Heads nodded all around and then I disagreed... and was met by the sound of crickets chirping. Too many think what we leave behind is about us, about being remembered, honored, leaving our "mark",  significance. It is... only if we are foolish. That's not how Jesus does things.

Abram - later to be renamed Abraham - is the template for what real authentic God-pleasing-faith looks like. He hears God promise him blessings and stuns by immediately turning the focus from himself to what he was going to pass on and who was going to get it. We can feel a bit bad for this "Eliezer" guy ( he worked for Abe) as Abram was not too thrilled to see it all potentially go to him. The point was that Abe wanted his life and the fruit of it to count for someone he loved. That's the holy application of "legacy" over and above the worldly idea of "what the say about us when we are gone". We work hard so we can leave value for those we love. Blessings are meant to be passed on,  not viewed as status or self centered achievements.

You're probably working hard today. Maybe it's sweat-breaking or nerve-racking or mind-numbing - whatever - You are working and you hope its all for something. Remember: the only valuable "something" is something that blesses those you love. It's about doing it for Him, or them. It's not about your ego. Resist the world's foolish focus. Do the right things for the right reason. 

Spark.