Legacy

After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. (Judges 10:1-5 ESV).

Since my wife and I are former students of Texas A & M University, there is a tradition that has been begun in our family that helps me understand very clearly the concept of “legacy.” The traditions and spirit we share being “Aggies” runs deep. “Legacy” means something in this setting. However, it means much more also. In our passage today, the different Judges have their legacies named: how long and where they ruled, how many sons and donkeys they possessed, and where they were buried. Webster defines legacy as "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past."

I am told Walt Disney World has an interesting sculpture at the entrance to the Epcot area. It is called the "Leave a Legacy Sculpture." People pay $35.00 to have their digital photo etched onto the sculpture. You can also have your image, along with your hopes and dreams for your family, placed on a special web site. This is for present and future generations to see and read. Disney calls this your legacy. It is, at best, vanity. We should not be so shallow as to think that leaving a photo and a few words will somehow validate our existence on earth.

So, it is valid for us to wonder what our legacy will be? Think on the answer today. Imagine that different people in the world are going to write our legacies for us. What would they write? What would your spouse write? What would your kids, your coworkers, your friends, your church family and your pastor write about you? What would you write? I wonder if the people around us would write the same general principles, indicating a balanced life? Or would they each be different, indicating a life of inconsistency? Think about it. How would you like to be remembered? Maybe you think your kids or spouse would write, "Dad was a great provider; we had everything we ever needed." Or, would they write, "Dad was never home; work was the most important area of his life." Perhaps you think your coworkers would write, "He was a fair and honest man, who always worked a full day." Or might they write, "He was self-centered and greedy, and never gave his best." How about people at church? Maybe you hope they would write, "He always volunteered to help, we could always count of him." Or could it be that the reality would be that they would write, "He served in a lot of positions, but he complained the entire time, neglected his family and brought down people with his grumbling." What legacy will you leave?