Legacy

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

For about ten years after moving to the Nashville area, my parents often took a day trip to the Nashville Flea Market. We would join them on occasion to spend time with them and check out the latest flea market finds. It had been about 15 years since I had gone, and I saw it advertised about a month ago. I invited my brother to come and go with me, and that is how we spent a good part of last Saturday. 

The flea market is an enjoyable experience. It offers a wide variety of items, from handmade crafts and foods to clothing, plants and flowers, paper goods, home decor, and different products on the market. There are even cosmetics if you are in the market for makeup. More than anything else, flea markets offer a wide selection of antiques and vintage treasures. My brother and I had a good time seeing items from our past and reminiscing about them. 

I found myself thinking about how those heirlooms and relics from bygone years had belonged to someone in the past, and undoubtedly, there were stories to each of them. I was reminded of the tirelessly long hours that we spent sifting through two houses of personal belongings after all of our parents had passed away. 

We spend much of our lives investing time, money, and energy in accumulating things. Our culture today is one of materialism, where we find our worth in what we own and where our success is based on wealth. The more we chase things, the more we lose sight of what really matters.  Each of us is leaving a legacy. Every day, we add something to the portrait of our lives, and eventually, what we leave behind.

What do you want to leave behind? What will people remember about you after you have gone?

The legacy God calls us to leave goes far deeper than material things. It’s about the spiritual footprint we leave behind—how our lives point others toward Christ. Instead of chasing earthly, frivolous things, we are called to devote our lives to investing in things with eternal significance and, in so doing, leaving a legacy of faith. 

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul recognizes Timothy’s sincere faith, which first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. That’s a legacy—faith passed down not by chance but by consistent love, obedience, prayer, perseverance, and example.

I am thankful for those who have gone before me, for their faithfulness to the Lord. They passed down the legacy of church, a spiritual foundation, and a strong faith. I would not be where I am today, in part, if it had not been for their faithfulness. And, I want to leave the same for those coming behind me. 

Today, we will build a small, or maybe even a major, part of our legacy. May we focus on the work God has prepared for us to do and make a difference for Him. May we live our lives in such a way that we will not look back on them with any regrets. May we make the most of our time and make it count for Christ.

Call to Action

What legacy are you leaving your children, future grandchildren, and even those who come much later? Will those folks be able to trace back to you and find you faithful?

What treasures on earth have you stored up and placed a higher value on than the Lord? 

Consider where you may have excess or stuff you don’t need. What can you give away to someone who might need what you have? 

Consider how you spend your time, energy, and money. Ask yourself, Is this useful for spiritual impact, or is it pulling my attention away from the Lord and His purposes?

Digging Deeper

Read these Scripture passages: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Hebrews 12:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:5-7, 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 3:6, Colossians 3:2. Take a look at the legacy left by King Josiah in 2 Kings 22 and 23. Make notes of all the things he did that had a lasting, eternal impact on the nation of Israel. 

Prayer

God, thank you for the faithfulness of many who have gone before us, and for Your unwavering faithfulness. Help us to invest in those things that point people to You and to leave a heritage of faithfulness. 

Lyrics to one of my favorite Christian songs, Find Us Faithful by Steve Green

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road,
And those who've gone before us
Line the way.
Cheering on the faithful,
Encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament
To God's sustaining grace.

Oh may all who come behind us
Find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion
Light their way.
May the footprints that we leave,
Lead them to believe,And the lives we live
Inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us
Find us faithful.

Surrounded by so great
A cloud of witnesses,
Let us run the race
Not only for the prize,
But as those who've gone before us.
Let us leave to those behind us,
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives.

After all our hopes and dreams
Have come and gone,
And our children sift through all
We've left behind,
May the clues that they discover,
And the memories they uncover,
Become the light that leads them,
To the road we each must find.

Copyright © 2025 Kyle Cravens