A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. – Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)
Death happens to everyone one of us sooner or later but what we leave behind is ultimately what will matter. Some people spend their whole lives building up riches at any cost. They manipulate, harm, and destroy others to get what they want. Money is the most important thing to them. Greed has a way of not only destroying other people but you as well.
In the rush to get as much as you can, you can forget that in the end you can’t take it with you. Money is finite and can be spent as quickly as it is made. What matters most, is the legacy you leave behind. How will you be remembered by the people you encountered? How will you be remembered by history? Will it be good or bad?
Our legacy should be one where can look back and say that you were a good person. It should be one that when your name is mentioned, no-one can say anything bad about what you did or said. While we are living, we should be aiming for a legacy just like the one Jesus left behind.
The man, Jesus lived on this earth for only about 33 years. He lived a life that even today for those who don’t follow his teachings, cannot say a bad word against. Jesus didn’t pursue riches he pursued you and me. His life was and is a template for ours.
When given the choice between good and bad, Jesus always choose good. No matter how much he was tempted, he always did the right thing. The Bible doesn’t record everything that Jesus did here on earth, but it does mention that he was tempted just like we are. There would have been times, he would have the choice of making money, but he chose not to. He knew that the pursuit of money at the cost of people’s lives was a legacy that he didn’t want to leave behind.
Jesus came to earth, with only one goal in mind, to save our souls. He knew that money could help people, but it could never save them. You cannot chase money and save people’s souls at the same time; you can only do one or the other. The love of money eventually cancels out the love of people. Knowing this, Jesus never gave into the things money could offer him.
Even if you never build up riches, you should always try to build up your legacy. Your choices will determine how you will be remembered. Jesus always consulted with God and read the scriptures to help make the right decisions. We now remember Jesus as man of integrity and faith.
When we face choices, we should do the same as Jesus – read our Bible and pray! Our legacy depends on our faith. If our faith is as strong as Jesus’ was then we can leave this earth knowing that we have a good name and that we are esteemed.
Originally published February 2019