To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might. – Daniel 2:23
What will you pass along to your children and grandchildren? For most people, even those who leave what they may feel is a small estate materially, provision has been made in the form of wills or trusts to provide for loved ones after an individual’s death. Properly executed, they can ease the burdens that can fall on those who remain. Inheritance, heritage, and legacy are all important themes in Scripture. Bill High, co-author of Giving It All Away and Getting It All Back Again, works with families “to equip them with tools to build multigenerational legacies” from a Biblical perspective. He says, “Legacy focuses on what will endure. It’s about passing on things of lasting value to those who will live on after us. Legacy involves living intentionally.”
In today’s verse, Daniel is praising God for giving him the wisdom and knowledge needed to interpret the dream of the Babylonian king. In doing so, he acknowledges that there is a rich family legacy he has received from his forefathers, a legacy that includes God working in and with them. He knew the psalm that says, “One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4). By the testimonies of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others he had studied, such as Joseph, Joshua, and David, the young Daniel knew that their wisdom and might came from the Lord. He could trust that the same God would be there for him also.
Your legacy, High said, involves living intentionally. What you do and what you say stays with those you leave behind far longer than the material things. Your God-given wisdom can remain for generations. So again, the question becomes, what will you be passing on to your children and grandchildren? What lessons will they learn from your life? How well will they know the importance of relying upon God in everything? What will they know of service to others and of generosity? Will they be people who are thankful, praising, and worshiping Jesus? Your life with God today is your legacy tomorrow. Live accordingly.
Today’s Verse: Daniel 2:23
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Titus 2:1-14
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
