Teaching Tuesday: Walking in Wisdom - Proverbs - Wisdom for Leaving a Legacy

November 11th, 2025

Series: Walking in Wisdom
Sermon: Wisdom for Words - Proverbs 13:22 (11.9.25)
Watch the messages HERE.

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. - Proverbs 13:22

Do you want to leave an inheritance? Do you want to leave a lasting legacy? We all want to be remembered by someone; the more the better. What do you want them to remember?

Write your own eulogy. (This is your homework.)

Now live your life in such a way that the preacher doesn’t have to lie at your funeral when he reads what you wrote.

You will be remembered. You will leave a legacy. The question is, will it be a legacy of faith or failure? Leaving a legacy of faith doesn’t mean you have to be perfect; only Jesus is perfect (Hebrews 4:15). We need to be intentional in how we live for Jesus.

Let your light shine.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14

Speak truth.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32

Serve others in the name of Jesus, speak the name of Jesus, and you will leave a legacy of faith.

Have an all-in attitude as you serve and speak.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23

God is giving us an inheritance. Pass that Good News of an inheritance to others. We don’t have a long-lost uncle leaving us a million-dollar inheritance (that would be awesome), we are receiving a city with a street paved with gold (totally awesome).

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. - Revelation 21:21

Pass on the Good News of Jesus and the inheritance He is giving us. Do what you can to leave the legacy of hope and life with your kids and grandkids. Don’t focus on the American Dream; focus on the Christian Dream.

The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence promotes the American dream. It says:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Praise God that we live in the freest nation on earth. The American Dream is excellent, which is why so many people want to come to America. But the American dream is not Christian.

I have written The Preamble to the Declaration of Dependence for Christians:

We hold these truths to be revealed in the Word of God, that all men are created in the image of their Creator and endowed with certain inalienable Responsibilities, that among these are Love God, Love Neighbor and the pursuit of Holiness.

I love the Declaration of Independence, but I love God’s word more. The following passages will help you leave a legacy of faith.

The right to Love God and Love Neighbor.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36

The right to make disciples.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18

We don’t have the right to happiness. We have the right to joy in Jesus. Happiness means we like our circumstances; joy says I have peace walking with Jesus in my circumstances.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:12

We have the right to suffer.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. - Philippians 1:29

Jesus doesn’t ever promise happiness in this life; He promises trouble. As Americans, we have it messed up. I am thankful for our freedom, but it has made us weak, whiny Christians.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Jesus promises us peace in trouble, not happiness.

Leave a legacy of peace and hope because you know Jesus and share Him with others, especially your kids and grandkids.

- Pastor Jim

Posted in Teaching Tuesdays