This week's Bible Study - May 29, 2005

Leave a Godly Legacy

Background Scripture: Genesis 24:1-4,12-16,50-51,61-67

What can I do to leave a godly legacy for my family?

Quote of the Week: Several years ago, I read about James Lewis Pettigru. His life was so exemplary that after his death the community erected a tombstone inscribed with these words:

UNAWED BY OPINION, UNSEDUCED BY FLATTERY, UNDISMAYED BY DISASTER, HE CONFRONTED LIFE WITH COURAGE, AND DEATH WITH CHRISTIAN HOPE.

-- Our Daily Bread, May 29, 1995

People want to leave a mark on the world. I believe everyone wants to be remembered in some way. For athletes, there are record books. But, one thing that has shown to be true is that records are made to be broken. Even the most prolific athletes of the past tend to diminish as time goes on. I could mention Tiger Woods or Greg Lemans. Most people have heard of them, but as time goes on, they will be remembered less and less. For example, many have never heard of Jesse Owens, but he was as great as any athlete in his day.

Others pour themselves into a career. They may do a remarkable job, creating great products, making huge discoveries that impact people. Or they may just do their job and do it very well. They may receive accolades from co-workers, or even be recognized outside of their companies. But, every new invention or idea really just leads to another one, outdating the previous. People that were known worldwide in their day become little more than the answers to trivia questions today. Names may be remembered, but that would be about it.

What do you think about when you think of a legacy? Dictionary.com defines a legacy as "Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past: a legacy of religious freedom". It may or may not be from an ancestor, but for the sake of level setting this lesson, it is assumed to be from an ancestor. We are not talking about the furniture that your Aunt Polly had in her dining room, or the car that your grandmother owned, but the intangibles that are a part of you that came from your family.

Many people spend a lot of their time blaming their behavior on what somebody else did to them - often a parent or a sibling. Some people certainly do come from horrible situations in the past, dealing with abuse or neglect or unrealistic expectations. It does mold into one's subconscious, but they are not bound to behavior because of the past. Whether any of that fits your or not, we all think of the blessings or the curses that we start out with due to family issues of the past - maybe not our immediate family, but perhaps a grandparent or great grandparent or someone many generations removed.

When we consider how we have been impacted by a legacy (good or bad) that has come from others, we are really focusing primarily on self. We are the center of that attention, eh? Perhaps at some point, (maybe now?), we need to consider our impact on the generations following us?

Families are in trouble all over the place. It's not just the ones you hear about on TV, or the co-workers that you know, but it also is in our churches. It may even be your family - one that is struggling mightily right now, or one that has gone through tough times in the past. Some don't make it all the way. The goal and standard that we know of seems harder and harder to attain. While this lesson won't give a lot practical direction on how to fix specific problems, it will help you to focus on the reasons why we need to make this a priority.

Avoid Relationships That Compromise Godliness ( Genesis 24:1-4 )

Abraham had lived a long and prosperous life. In all that he had done, God blessed him in many ways. As you read about the life of Abraham, you realize that, although Abraham was a man of faith, God had selected him to bless. It wasn't because of a life that was perfect. He had plenty of issues along the way, but God had molded Abraham through these situations to be more and more like the man God wanted him to be all along.

Abraham's priority at one time had been upon himself - taking care of himself, his family and his possessions. He never really seemed to be consumed by things - as he made some decisions that meant he would accept less than what he perhaps should have been entitled to. One side point that seems to come up often is that many are blessed with possessions or abilities or enjoyable pastimes that they can experience. There is nothing wrong with any of that, until it becomes what consumes you. If your life can be balanced with the right priorities, you will find that God intends for you to be able to do a lot, but when the balance is out of kilter, you will find your life being consumed by that which you used to love.

As Abraham was growing old, he placed more emphasis on the generations to come. He had a servant, Eliezar, swear that Isaac would not take a wife from the Canaanite women. Instead, he was to go find a wife from the land where Abraham had come from.

Why would Abraham worry about such things? If Isaac found a woman whom he loved (wherever she was from and whoever she was), it would all work out, right? He had the upbringing in a family that followed God, so there would be no problems, right? Abraham knew that it would require more. What Abraham knew was that the Canaanites were not God followers. For Isaac to marry one of them, his faith would have become watered down, and sooner or later, there would be compromises in his beliefs. The same holds true today, really. Many marry for 'love', but they do not take into account the vast differences of backgrounds. They believe that they can 'change' their spouse, but what they usually find is that they end up filtering things to the point of stepping away from practicing what they know to be true.

God had called Abraham in a very unique manner, and He intended to bless distant generations because of his faith. Abraham had left his home to go to a place that God would let him know. However, as Abraham spoke to his servant, he sent him to a specific place and people. Abraham knew that the stakes were high. Eliezar knew where to go, but what to do when he got there was a bit of another story.

Pray About People and Decisions ( Genesis 24:12-16 )

Eliezar went about doing what Abraham had said. Although he had some specific direction about where to go, he needed some direction once he got there. He did what we all should do - he prayed. His prayer was simple, selfless and sensitive. It was not a flowery speech, but a heartfelt prayer that he offered up to God. He wasn't interested in what he could get out of it, but only in fulfilling what he was sent to accomplish.

He based his prayer upon God and he also appealed on the behalf of Abraham. Eliezar knew that this was no trivial task. The decision of who Isaac was to marry would be one that would impact generations to come. He wanted this decision to be very much based on what God wanted. Isaac's wife would play a very vital role in how the nations would be blessed in the future. You may not think that the same applies to your decisions, but you might be amazed at the repercussions of the choices you make and how they can impact the landscape of the future.

Eliezar did what many of us would like to do, when making a decision. He developed a scenario and asked for God's hand in getting the answer. Wouldn't this be a nice way to discern God's will? If this thing (a) happens, then do this, and if this thing (b) happens, then do that. The truth is that God has given us many answers, and our bargaining in this manner really shows more of unbelief than anything else. We have much more of God's word available to us than Eliezar had access to.

Even while he was speaking, a beautiful, young virgin came up with a jug on her shoulder. God was at work and desiring to make things crystal clear to Eliezar. Have you ever considered that God wants to make things clear to us, as well, but we want to keep asking until we get the answer we want? We need to align ourselves to God's will and follow the answers that He gives us.

Prayer involves acceptance of God's promises into practical action in our lives. He has promised so many things that flow into how we live, or at least how we should live. When we pray, we help to see God's promises in everyday actions - how we treat people and live our lives. The choices we make and the ones that we don't make should be aligned to God's promises and His known will.

Follow God's Directions for Your Family ( Genesis 24:50-51,61-67 )

Eliezar went with Rebekah back to her family and he told of his mission. They listened and believed it to be from the Lord, and their response was as ours should be - if this is from God, then we really have no choice but to follow. They were willing to allow Rebekah to go and become a wife for Isaac. We talk a lot about the faith of Abraham and in this case, Eliezar. But, we also need to think of Rebekah's family who allowed Rebekah to go with Eliezar. As parents and family members, we often hold on to our children or perhaps siblings or even parents - and just want them around, so that life will be comfortable. However, if God calls them - wherever he calls them, we need to be willing participants and encourage our loved ones to follow God's call.

Rebekah got prepared and followed Eliezar back to the land of Canaan. As they approached, Isaac was out in the field and he saw the procession of camels. Rebekah noticed him as well and asked Eliezar who this man was. He became the director of this scene, which may be seen in many a movie script. She got off her camel and showed simple faith in her willingness to follow God's direction. Eliezar then explained the situation to Isaac. Everyone was agreeable to following what Abraham had requested, and Isaac and Rebekah were married, beginning the next line in this family that would bless all nations.

Closing

Of all the marks you can leave on the world, the only one that will remain alive is through your family and the people you touch. It may or may not be a family name - that is really not as important as the people that are there and those that will come. Even if you've made mistakes, or when you make mistakes, realize that your life will ripple much like a stone thrown in a pond.

All of us will encounter times of distress or trouble in making decisions. We can seek advice from professionals, counselors or many other people. However, if you are concerned about leaving a legacy, you will pray about decisions that you make. And, then you will put feet to your prayers - when God speaks, you will act. Sometimes these prayers will be for decisions you make and other times you will find that you are interceding for other folks. In any case, seek God through prayer.

God never meant to just get us saved and let us go. He desires that our daily choices are reflective of what He would have us to do. Your choices will also impact future generations to come. You never know which choice may be the one that you are remembered for, or if they will be able to simply see a pattern of living that aligned with Jesus Christ. You are in the process of becoming the person God intended you to be. Will you agree with God and carry it the rest of the way?

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