Message 23 October 2016 Taking
Responsibility VIII # Two Futures Pt 2
Refer to last
words of Moses, Samuel, David, and the Lord Jesus
This
message is a continuation of the message Two Futures Pt 1. Every life situation
has two futures - a future when you are there and one after you have left. The
one is about your significance the later about your legacy. You have a
responsibility to look at the two futures and do something positive to prepare
for both. The last message looked at what to consider in planning for a future
when you are present. We now look at
what to consider in planning for what happens after you leave.
2) Responsibility
for the Future that exists after you go
When
serving in a situation you have a responsibility to plan for its future without
you. Something positive or negative happens when you are not or no longer there
- have moved on or died. Often people are better at preparing for their
presence than for their absence. Yet presence in a situation sows seed for one’s
prospects when one leaves.
What
will you leave behind to your life situations? You cannot release yourself from
being a part of the future without you. The way you handle your exit or move
makes you an accomplice in the failure or partner in the success of the
situation that remains. You have an
opportunity today to plan to influence the implications of your departure and
absence. Your legacy is what you leave behind. The following are lessons from
Samuel, Moses, David and the Lord Jesus of how they prepared for the day of
their departure and absence. You need to leave behind the following.
a) What you did
together (Memories)
Things
you do together with people create memories, especially, times together in informal
experiences of life, holiday, sharing gifts, visiting places watching a sport
or movie, social occasion. Times you love and cry together. Times you seek God
together.
Joshua
had such inspiring and assuring memories with Moses because he followed him and
witnessed his face to face encounters with God. They fought battles together
and won together by faith in God. No wonder, when Moses died God encouraged
Joshua by these words, I'll be with you
just like I was with Moses—I'll neither fail you nor abandon you (Joshua 1:5).
These words were assuring because Joshua knew firsthand how faithful God had
been with Moses. The children of Israel also had positive memories of their
experience with Samuel. He asked them if he needed to make anything right with
them and they found nothing wrong to
point a finger at him (1Samuel 12:1-5). Samuel asked for an evaluation because
he must have had for this outcome as a life goal.
b) What others
watch you do (A Model)
What
you do generates critics and followers. People in your situation are watching
you and that is a big responsibility. They are observing how you handle
challenges and make choices. How you honor principles, boundaries and
commitments. The example you set lends weight to the words you say. Samuel set
a good example of integrity and patience that others admired (1Samuel 12:1-5). They said, “You have always been honest with
us. You have not made it hard for us, or taken anything from any man’s hand.”
Samuel said to them, “The Lord has heard you. And His chosen one has heard this
day that you have found nothing in my hand.” And they said, “The Lord has
heard.”
c) What others hear
you say (Words)
You
have a responsibility to speak words of wisdom and faith that inspire courage
in your absence. Take responsibility by communicating beginning in simple
courtesies such as sending apologies and contributions to issues at hand if you
will not make it to a meeting. As a
parent or leader say what you have learnt in life. Speak out principles you
want to pass on as a guide to those who come after you. Write something down.
Record it for it will be remembered and valued - if not immediately, eventually
it certainly will.
As
last words David said something (last chapters of chronicles and 2 Sam 23:1-7).
For example he encouraged Solomon his son. "Be
strong and courageous, and get to work. Never be afraid or discouraged, for the
LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor will he abandon you
right up to your completion of the task (1 Chronicles 28:20).
Samuel
said something. Samuel said to the
people, “Do not be afraid. You have done all these sins. But do not turn aside
from following the Lord. Worship the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn
aside after things that have no worth and cannot save you, for they are
nothing. The Lord will not leave His people alone, because of His great name.
The Lord has been pleased to make you His people. And as for me, far be it from
me that I should sin against the Lord by not praying for you. But I will teach
you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and be faithful to worship
Him with all your heart. Think of the great things He has done for you. But if
you still sin, both you and your king will be destroyed.” 1 Samuel 12:20-25
Moses
also said something similar to exhort his audience to remain faithful to the
Lord.
d) What you live
for (A Cause).
What
you spend time and resources on, you make a priority and are passionate about
is a cause you leave behind for others to catch and take further. What you live
for is essentially what you die for, it is more important than mere dates when
you were born and died. What matters is the significance of the life time. As
well said, it's not the years of life that matter but the life in the years. God wants you to leave a cause behind. He
wants you to outlive your lifetime, Jesus left a cause that must be passed to
every generation (Mathew 28:18-20). Start or contribute to something that will
keep the next generation positively employed. Every person found benefit and
work in the initiatives, effort and dreams of others – preachers, politicians, inventors,
innovators etc. You should also leave a cause as a heritage to the next
generation.
e) What you
leave behind (An Inheritance)
David
made a deal with God to build a house. Solomon was to build it but David
designed the building and identified the site, He also gathered materials and
mobilized labor and supportive networks. Jesus also promised his spiritual
presence and Holy Spirit as resources after he left.
Samuel
promised not to sin by not praying for those who came after him as long as he
could do so. A type of Christ who after he left became a high priest
interceding for those he left behind.
What
will you leave behind for the situation you are and those following after you? It
should concern you what world your children will inherit? Is there a future for
them and those who remain? The righteous leave an inheritance - tangibles and
intangibles. Don't go with everything. Leave something behind. - plant fruit
trees, take insurance policies, provide solutions, successors, structures,
peace and order, values of respect for life, dignity and work. Pass the baton
don't hide it. Do not mortgage the next generation by creating problems and blunders
they will struggle to remedy instead of a foundation they can develop from going
forward.
Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.
First Floor Dhando House,
66 Eloff Street Extension,
Village Deep,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment