Heritage: Building a Strong Family Legacy

In today's show, "heritage" is described as the deposit we have made in our children that they take through this life, and that they benefit from for eternity.  It is likened to a deep well that is like a reservoir, able to be pulled from in the midst of the storms, floods and droughts of life.

What is required to build a strong legacy:

• intentionality
• endurance
• humility

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." (Pro. 3:7, NIV)

Types of Legacy and How They Can be Built

1. Identity as it Relates to Self (Emotional Legacy)

This refers to having a sense of well being and security.  This is where a child grows up knowing he is accepted and loved.

a. What is required to build this?

A loving family context marked by:

• safety
• stability
• sensitivity
• support
• structure

b. How is this achieved?

• confirmation (validating accomplishment and effort)
• correction (helping them see their need for a Savior)
• consistency (giving them our time)
• connection (being actively connected as a family)

2. Identity as it Relates to Others (Social Legacy)

This refers to having healthy and appropriate relationships with others.

"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." (1 Jn. 4:20, NIV)

a. What is required to build this?

A home life and family life that:

• teaches
• models
• reinforces

It teaches, models and reinforces healthy and appropriate interpersonal relationships.

b. How is it achieved?

By teaching, modeling and reinforcing:

• Respect (for self and others)
• Responsibilities

3. Identity as it Relates to God (Spiritual Legacy)

This refers to that most important of legacies - a personal and abiding relationship with the Lord.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mk. 12:30)

a. What is required to build this?

Godly parents who teach, model and reinforce that personal and abiding relationship with Christ.

b. How is it achieved?

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deut. 6:6-9)

• By having our own authentic relationship with Christ.  We need to know Christ personally and be growing in Him.
• Sharing that authentic relationship with our children.

Conclusion

We rely on God, being mindful that He is our wisdom and strength as we build a strong family legacy.