Leaving an Inheritance
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Intro
Intro
A topic I know we think about is death, and with it we wonder how others will take the news, how will some people get a long without us, what am I able to leave them to help them after I am gone...
Those are questions we ask ourselves as we get older, would you agree?
Why do we think about these things?
We care about those around us is one of the biggest reasons we consider those thoughts. Now I am not saying that is the only reason, I say that because I don’t know everyone in the sense of what you think in regard to these matters.
But generally, I think you do...
So stop for a second with me and think about this thought, what is the inheritance you are leaving got others?
What will make the absolute difference in their lives...
What are you leaving them, money, property, other wealth or is it something greater..
Think about the inheritance you are leaving for those around you after you die…
Let turn over to the book of proverbs in the OT
1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
Proverbs chapter 13
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20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
____________________
As I looked at this text, I discovered that
1. Wise company is a good inheritance
1. Wise company is a good inheritance
Right of the bat, King Solomon, the one who is the wisest man in the world at this time. He says that wise company is a good inheritance.
What do you think he means by that....?
The influence of another person effects you in positive or negative ways, correct?
Think of the old cartoon with a person with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other, what are they doing, they are seeking to provide two types of counsel, correct?
Yes indeed they are…
When I became a Christian there were certain people I couldnt have around me consistently any more… you know why? They didn’t have wise counsel.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Everyone is a influence on someone....
When we look at the world around us and all that is influencing our children, young adults around us and yes even our friends… We must be very careful with who we allow to influence our lives and the lives of those around.
Question.
Question.
what do you think is the greatest influencer of people today.
Social media, internet, news, TV and radio, music or Others.
Pray - ask the Lord to give you good people to influence you but also that you will influence others for Jesus.
Pray
And then we come to a second thought for today...
2. Wise Actions Lead to Good Results
2. Wise Actions Lead to Good Results
Now let consider the idea of what our actions achieve or do not achieve ...
So leading back to what we have already talked about, how we are influenced, good or bad, would you agree with me that this has a direct influence on our results?
Go back to our text , and lets look at verse 21 this time around
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
So following along with the first idea, if we are influenced incorrectly, what is the likely outcome?
Disaster, the unrighteous by their negative influences stay on a wrong course that ultimately meets in judgement.
There is a literally night and day difference for those who are doing right and wrong, the outcome of each life is seen in the same way.
The word disaster can also be translated as evil or trouble if you want. In either case it is not good.
And for the evil person, it is said that this pursues them… it literally chases after them to capture them and ensnare them.
Think about this idea, evil ways, evil influences push a person to the place where they are unable to find freedom or hope, life or peace. They are in a repetitive cycle of sin.
Think about those on the streets, the criminal element, we know that unless Christ and godly people influence them, the other group will, correct?
And if that is the case, they will be led down that road again until they are captive. They have lost their freedoms as the consequences of their own choices as directed by others.
You cannot do the same things and expect different results, it will not, it does not work.
But listen to the other side of the story
V21b.... But the righteous are rewarded with good.
The true subject of the sentence is not the man who is righteous but Jehovah, the Lord our God, He is the one who gives all good gifts.
Listen to
Listen to and 12;12
24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.
and
12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
Again, who has done the work, man works according to faith or not, and for the righteous, His actions has lead to his establishment.
Abraham it was said that his faith was counted as righteousness.
i like the word rewarded, it brings to light that truth of good consequences for right behavior.
Question...
What in your life do you want to be rewarded for by Jesus...
And then finally we come to the last thought for today, are you ready...
2. Wise Actions lead to good results
3. A Wise man invests in His family’s future.
3. A Wise man invests in His family’s future.
3. A Wise man invests in His family’s future.
Investing is something we hear a lot about in today’s world, and i am sure there are some of you who invest some where some how...
To invest means you are putting your trust into something with the hope of a good outcome
So lets look at the last verse of this short text today...
Inheritance issues can be controversial, but, in the Bible, inheritance is also a great example of a good gift: it’s given by grace— not earned—a windfall received from God, who loves us. celebrates the way God gave the promised land to Israel “as an inheritance.” Again and again the refrain echoes, “His love endures forever.” As history shows, Israel had done nothing to earn that inheritance. God was creating a new nation that would bless all nations by providing a Savior.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
The tribe of Levi, though, did not receive land as their inheritance. They served in the ceremonial worship of God as priests and teachers and temple workers. And because of this intimate relationship with God, it was said, “The Lord is their inheritance” ().
The word inheritance is one we pay attention too, we invest in the hopes of a good outcome, namely here a good inheritance. But wealth isn;t the only type of inheritance a person can leave another, and surely money isnt the best thing.
I cannot remember the name but there was a wealthy timber tycoon in the late 1800 who lived up north and I believe it was in the Michigan area. When he passed he left each of his children something, but not the fortunes they had hoped. he said in his will, he knew if we left them all that money, it would corrupt and lead them in unrighteous ways.
In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (). And describes salvation as “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”
So he left them each little, but the majority of his vast fortune he left I believe to his great, or great great grand children.
What a heavenly treasure we have in Christ! All by grace, through faith!
Prayer
He didn't want to give a life of ease to his children, he wanted them to continue to strive for excellence in hopes they would all turn out well in the future.
So a good father isn’t one who leaves riches, but who leaves a legacy behind.
Thank you, O God, that you are our inheritance, and that to know you, and the Son whom you sent, is eternal life, greater than all earthly treasure! Amen!
The word leaves in the Hebrew is in a Hiph tense and it means that he causes them to inherit.
What will you cause your children to inherit?
So every action you do is a witness to those around and under you, what you do whether said or not speaks volumes and heard by all,
Truett Cathy is the founder of Chick fila… he started a business on Christian values, morals, etc…
When he handed the reigns over to his Son several years ago, he said son, promise me you will never allow our stores to open on Sunday regardless of the temptation of money… and it has remained that way.
But one the other side of the fence....
The wicked will loose all they have and God will give it over to his own people.
Stored up means it is laid aside for future use...
Consider the ideal of this world, one day we will rule and reign with Jesus, the world will be given over to us, and finally a new heaven and a new earth will come down out of heaven.
Question...
What inheritance are you leaving… the world is trying to deposit theirs in the life of our families .... we need to be working just as hard to ensure it takes no root in their lives.