Post by suec on Sept 6, 2008 20:55:37 GMT 10
The Legacy of a Father
It is often an overlooked part of fatherhood – the legacy left behind. A legacy is usually not appreciated until the person leaving it has died. But it is a very important part of fatherhood. Legacy is defined as “anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor”. The thing that intrigued me as I looked at this is that the legacy is generational. That is the legacy gets stronger as it is passed down. When I look at the legacy of our family, I look at two different paths. In fact when you look at the family tree, there are so many paths that define who we are and how we function as a person. So for my children their legacy comes from David’s family and from my family. The legacy of the past will affect each person in a different way.
Let us look at a couple of scriptures.
Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
This is a statement of intent. Joshua was challenging the people, let us read a little of the background,
Joshua 24:11 – 15 And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girga****es, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 And I have given you a land for which you did not labour, and cities which you built not, and you dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive-yards which you planted not do you eat.
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
It didn’t matter what else was happening around them, it didn’t matter that the neighbours didn’t go to church, it didn’t matter that the relatives didn’t believe in God, Joshua was making a stand to serve the Lord. This commitment was not just for him, it was for his entire household, the sons and daughters, the children and grandchildren, the servants and any other who lived under his roof.
The way that a father acts is also important,
Proverbs 20:7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
How many times have you heard the saying “Like father, like son”? Sometimes it is to reflect the goodness of a father that is reflected in his son. Often it is to reflect the evil of a man’s heart that is reflected in the son.
Let us reflect on our legacy. On one side we have David's parents. They were devout Christians, their walk with God was an important part of their life and they did not divert from the narrow path. Then there was 2 sets of grandparents, one family was a large family with a strong Christian walk. This had been handed down from generation to generation. It was tradition that the eldest son of the eldest son was always named Enoch. David’s Dad was about 10 when his father died, there were 3 younger than him. But the Christian faith remained strong. One of the sisters went to India as a missionary, one of the sons was an army chaplain. The other side of David’s legacy came from his Mothers side. This was another family with strong faith and commitment to serving God. David’s Mum was the only child of a minister with the Congregational Church. A role that was only halted when he was tossed from a sulky and the injuries meant he never walked or talked again. But his knowledge was passed on as he taught his daughter about the God he served through the use of an easel. Before David’s Dad died we had a family reunion, we knew that our time with him was short and the gathering was planned. When I look at the photos of that day I stand amazed. There were 4 children, their spouses and 12 grandchildren, some of the grandchildren had married and there were 4 great grandchildren. Of that number 3 of the 4 children were in full time ministry, of 12 grandchildren only 3 walked a different path, but of the 9 who remained faithful to God, 1 was involved in worship ministry, 5 have been or are now involved in children’s work, youth work or missionary work, 2 were or are too young. This legacy is strong and has withstood tests of time.
But then I looked at my family and the legacy that was left behind, the strength of faith is not there. And I wondered at the difference. My parents became Christians as Young adults, my mother was a newly wed, my father made a decision about 10 years later. There was no strong heritage, there was no legacy from my grandparents. And I see the difference in my brothers. The legacy is not as strong, we are building a heritage for our children, but the legacy from my parents is mainly seen in our children, my nieces and nephews struggle to maintain their faith.
The legacy you leave as a father does make a difference! Can I encourage you to make that legacy a strong Christian faith. You can start the heritage, you can change the legacy that your children receive.
To finish, I was reminded that when we use the phrase “Like Father, like son” we need to look at who is our Father?
Our Father, who art in heaven … is that your father? Are you His son? Or His daughter? Then you have a legacy handed down to you that is so strong, as we are heirs of the kingdom.
It is often an overlooked part of fatherhood – the legacy left behind. A legacy is usually not appreciated until the person leaving it has died. But it is a very important part of fatherhood. Legacy is defined as “anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor”. The thing that intrigued me as I looked at this is that the legacy is generational. That is the legacy gets stronger as it is passed down. When I look at the legacy of our family, I look at two different paths. In fact when you look at the family tree, there are so many paths that define who we are and how we function as a person. So for my children their legacy comes from David’s family and from my family. The legacy of the past will affect each person in a different way.
Let us look at a couple of scriptures.
Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
This is a statement of intent. Joshua was challenging the people, let us read a little of the background,
Joshua 24:11 – 15 And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girga****es, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 And I have given you a land for which you did not labour, and cities which you built not, and you dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive-yards which you planted not do you eat.
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
It didn’t matter what else was happening around them, it didn’t matter that the neighbours didn’t go to church, it didn’t matter that the relatives didn’t believe in God, Joshua was making a stand to serve the Lord. This commitment was not just for him, it was for his entire household, the sons and daughters, the children and grandchildren, the servants and any other who lived under his roof.
The way that a father acts is also important,
Proverbs 20:7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
How many times have you heard the saying “Like father, like son”? Sometimes it is to reflect the goodness of a father that is reflected in his son. Often it is to reflect the evil of a man’s heart that is reflected in the son.
Let us reflect on our legacy. On one side we have David's parents. They were devout Christians, their walk with God was an important part of their life and they did not divert from the narrow path. Then there was 2 sets of grandparents, one family was a large family with a strong Christian walk. This had been handed down from generation to generation. It was tradition that the eldest son of the eldest son was always named Enoch. David’s Dad was about 10 when his father died, there were 3 younger than him. But the Christian faith remained strong. One of the sisters went to India as a missionary, one of the sons was an army chaplain. The other side of David’s legacy came from his Mothers side. This was another family with strong faith and commitment to serving God. David’s Mum was the only child of a minister with the Congregational Church. A role that was only halted when he was tossed from a sulky and the injuries meant he never walked or talked again. But his knowledge was passed on as he taught his daughter about the God he served through the use of an easel. Before David’s Dad died we had a family reunion, we knew that our time with him was short and the gathering was planned. When I look at the photos of that day I stand amazed. There were 4 children, their spouses and 12 grandchildren, some of the grandchildren had married and there were 4 great grandchildren. Of that number 3 of the 4 children were in full time ministry, of 12 grandchildren only 3 walked a different path, but of the 9 who remained faithful to God, 1 was involved in worship ministry, 5 have been or are now involved in children’s work, youth work or missionary work, 2 were or are too young. This legacy is strong and has withstood tests of time.
But then I looked at my family and the legacy that was left behind, the strength of faith is not there. And I wondered at the difference. My parents became Christians as Young adults, my mother was a newly wed, my father made a decision about 10 years later. There was no strong heritage, there was no legacy from my grandparents. And I see the difference in my brothers. The legacy is not as strong, we are building a heritage for our children, but the legacy from my parents is mainly seen in our children, my nieces and nephews struggle to maintain their faith.
The legacy you leave as a father does make a difference! Can I encourage you to make that legacy a strong Christian faith. You can start the heritage, you can change the legacy that your children receive.
To finish, I was reminded that when we use the phrase “Like Father, like son” we need to look at who is our Father?
Our Father, who art in heaven … is that your father? Are you His son? Or His daughter? Then you have a legacy handed down to you that is so strong, as we are heirs of the kingdom.
