Living Outloud: Building a Legacy that Matters
When most people hear the word legacy, they think of money, titles, or something tangible left behind. But the story of David and Solomon in 1 Chronicles 21–22 pushes us to look deeper.
David wanted to build the temple, but God said no. Instead, David gathered resources and handed Solomon something far greater than gold: a framework for success rooted in obedience. He had learned the hard way that numbers and strength don’t secure the future—after counting his fighting men and facing God’s correction, he realized victories come only from the Lord.
So when David charged Solomon, he didn’t say, “You’ll succeed because I funded you.” He said, in essence, “You’ll succeed if you obey.” That shift reframes what we pass on and what we prize.
Legacy Isn’t About Accounts, It’s About Anchors
Money can help, but it cannot anchor a life. Wisdom can.
David’s instruction centered on:
The fear of the Lord
Courage
Careful obedience to God’s law
That’s the kind of inheritance that shapes character, sustains faith in storms, and gives a way to live whether resources are scarce or abundant. Planning isn’t wrong, but planning without discipleship mistakes means for ends. If we want something that lasts, we must build into people, not just projects.
Temple-Building in the New Covenant
Here’s where the story gets personal. The temple is no longer stone and cedar—we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
That means discipleship is temple‑building, one heart at a time. Parents, mentors, and spiritual friends equip others to love and obey Jesus, to think biblically, and to walk in wisdom.
A durable legacy looks less like a portfolio and more like a pattern of faithfulness:
Scripture opened at the table
Apologies offered when we fail
Prayer in both crisis and calm
A household that prizes truth even when it costs
These are the bricks of a living temple.
What Endures
Solomon’s wealth was legendary, but the kingdom fractured after him. What endured? Proverbs and Ecclesiastes—wisdom literature still discipling readers centuries later.
Earthly accomplishments rise and fall. The Word shapes generations.
That truth comforts those with limited means and challenges those with much to aim wealth toward the kingdom. If God has entrusted resources to you, employ them to serve formation: fund Bibles, mentors, learning, missions, and habits that cultivate reverence for God. And if you lack resources, you lack nothing essential for legacy. The fear of the Lord, integrity, and daily obedience are within reach and carry eternal weight.
When Legacy Feels Prickly
For many, legacy talk stirs pain. Maybe your father was absent. Maybe you don’t have children. Maybe your kids are far from God. Scripture doesn’t gloss over grief, and pat answers don’t heal.
But there is hope. You have a Father whose Word is for you, and His wisdom can become your inheritance today. You can also become a spiritual mother or father to others, investing the lessons you learned the hard way.
God does not waste obedience. He multiplies it in ways we often cannot see on our timeline.
So begin the work. Open the Word. Share your faith. Pray with boldness. Keep going.
Legacies built on the Lord stand when accounts run dry and monuments fall. That is the kind that lasts.
