“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22
As I have grown as a husband and especially a father, this verse in Proverbs has steadily rung in my ear. Coming from a family who was not wealthy, I have spent most of my years pursuing monetary wealth. My goal from childhood has been to be as “rich” as possible. This goal was only enhanced as we had children and up until 2018, I can firmly say money had been my god. I never wanted my children to “go without” and I always have wanted to leave them something if I died. Now I sit here in January of 2025 contemplating this verse in Proverbs 13.
You see, I know 3 men around my age that have passed away this year and they leave young children behind. As my heart breaks for their families, I cannot help but evaluate what I leave for my children should the Lord call me home today. What is the most important thing I can leave my children? Is it my money? My things and stuff? Perhaps my properties and contacts to high positions in society? What can I leave my children and their children? As I sit here contemplating these things, I believe the best thing I could leave for my children is a love for God and the example of my faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That is what would truly make them wealthy, and it is an inheritance they can pass to their own families.
What good is it to leave to our children monetary wealth, or houses and properties, or all the connections to high life society if their souls are not secure in the Lord? Is it not our job as their fathers to take care of them physically as well as spiritually? Our children will learn to love what we love; they will pursue what we pursue, and they will worship what we worship. What inheritance will we leave for our children and their children?
Fathers, I know the sacrifices we make to provide for our families, and I do not want to downplay that. However, this week I challenge us to focus our minds less on the daily grind of providing the physically temporary things and focus more on providing the spiritually eternal things. May we leave a legacy of faith in the Lord that shines for generations to come.