What kind of legacy will you leave?
Each of us one day will have to give an account of our lives before God (Rom. 14:12). We will see our lives
as an open book before the Lord, and we will be judged accordingly. What will count the most in that moment of
eternity?
Each of us one day will die. Someone no doubt will offer a eulogy at our funerals. What will that person say?
The legacy that we leave behind us is largely up to our choosing. Very few great things are accomplished for
God's kingdom by chance. We determine to a great extent the reputation that we have both while we are alive and
after we have died.
Some people simply will leave a void in their passing. They were here, and now they aren't. They live, and they
die. People who leave only a void are those who live for themselves. What they leave behind quickly evaporates.
Other people leave an influence in their passing. They make a difference in the overall direction and
quality of the world in which they live. Their passing is mourned. Their remembrance is kept. These are the people
who live for others—who choose to give of themselves generously. They are the ones who give the best they have,
including their time, talents, and resources.
A life of service leaves a legacy of influence. The greater the service, the greater the legacy.
The way you serve others is the way you will be remembered on earth and the criterion upon which you will be
rewarded in heaven.
Make your life count! Serve God with your whole heart, mind, and spirit today … and every day.
From Developing a Servant's Heart by Charles
Stanley. Copyright 1998 by Charles Stanley.
