What Legacy Are You Building

What Legacy Are You Building

Acts 9:39 ‘...all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments’

By Kurai Chitima 

God wants you to leave behind a rich and lasting legacy.  You were born with clasped hands. You were born with something to offer. Each life is trusted with God given dreams.  The worst tragedy that can happen is to live a wasted life. A wasted live is one not lived for Christ and others. Myles Munroe wrote that the richest place on earth is not the diamond fields, gold mines, the oil fields but the graveyard. For at the graveyard lie dreams, solutions, projects, books and vast potential that never came to be. Determine in your heart that you will not enrich the cemetery. David served his generation according to God’s purpose (Acts 13:36). What matters most is not living a life full of years but living years full of life.

A legacy is what you leave behind after you move on. It can be positive or negative, temporal or lasting. The Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. In 1888, when his brother died, a French newspaper mistook the death for that of Alfred and described him as a merchant of death for having invented dynamite (used in making bombs). Not wanting to leave behind such horrible memories Alfred Nobel created a will that established the now famous Nobel peace prizes. You will be remembered for problems you solve or create. Today you have a chance to determine what people will remember of you. Make that your life vision.

When Tabitha (Dorcas) died (Acts 9:39) people who knew her:

-          Had something they missed. Tabitha was deeply missed. Will you be missed? Tabitha’s body was washed and ready for burial. The disciples and the widows mourned her. Mourning is an emotional response to an irretrievable loss.  When the wicked die the city rejoices. It was different for disciple Tabitha.  The day of death is better than the day of one's birth (Ecc 7:1).   The day of birth is a day of promise that of death is of fulfillment/evaluation.  It is more important how you finish than how you start (2 Tim 4:7; 1 Kings 11:4-6)

-          Had something to say. People had good things to say. They could talk about the good person and good works that Tabitha was. It is not only what people say at the graveside that is really telling but also what they say in the hearts and homes. What will God say? What will you say? What will others say? You are writing the script each day you have opportunity to live.

-          Had something to show. They could support what they said of Tabitha by showing the robes she made and gave to support widows.  What ‘robes’ will be shown about you?  She went beyond her circle of obvious relations to help others. ‘Let your light shine before man so they can see your good works (Mat 5:16). Prosperity is not how much you keep but how much you give. Mother Theresa is well known for work among disadvantaged people. She is not known for accumulated material wealth but by the contributions she made in ministry to the poor, helpless, sick, and orphaned. She believed every needy, unwanted, uncared, forgotten person was Jesus in disguise (Mat 25:44-45). 

-          Had something to follow. Tabitha left something good others could emulate.  You will die some day Heb 9:27.  You will cross the threshold to eternity. Life is a short opportunity to make a positive difference (Eph 5:16; Ecc 1:2; 12:13; 3:14). Love Jesus with all your heart, strength and soul. Make the most of the brief life. Begin now even in small things/good works. Whatever you do - do it well.