Lead a Legacy

In Paul’s first letter to his young pastor friend, Timothy, he says “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Paul tells Timothy to set an example.  The word ‘example’ is translated ‘pattern’.   In other words, be proactive, initiate different patterns in your families, your lives and your workplaces.  Lead a legacy.

The first thing Paul talked about was words. Jesus said” For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).  If you want to know what is true about your heart, look at your words.  For instance, if you often speak with anger, in your heart is hurt, frustration or fear. Anger is a secondary emotion to pain.  Ask Jesus to reveal the source of your angry words.  Deal with the cause, not just the symptom. I don’t think Paul mentions ‘speech’ first by accident. Words are so critical in our lives. Words leave (or destroy) legacies.  Begin today and lead a legacy of words that will build up and encourage those around you.

Paul says secondly to set an example in how you live. Our life is our personal value system.  Who you are impacts those around you.  Are you living in way that honours Christ and encourages people? What does your life example to those around you?

The third thing is to set an example in your love.   This love isn’t the “feel good” emotional kind. Love ought to be the most important thing about our lives, and yet we use the word love to talk about both people and food.  To truly love is to give up your wants for someone else’s needs. Jesus said it best, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).  Loving like Jesus means sacrificing. To love is to die to self.  What I love most about Jesus is He didn’t just say it. He did it.  That is leading a legacy. 

The fourth thing is to set an example in faith.  Faith here is different than the word believe. Paul was talking here about staying the course. He was teaching his young friend to maintain his faith when trials come.  In other words, in order to lead a legacy, we have to learn not to quit. As a pastor I have watched people in tough, even painful circumstances quit too soon. God see’s what we can’t see, because of that we so often miss out on what He is trying to do in our lives.  We talk about this a lot because it happens a lot.  Corrie Ten Boom said “Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for only a future He can see.”  I love that.  God tests our faith so that it can be trusted.  Don’t quit too soon.

The last thing in Paul’s list is purity. The word he uses here refers primarily to sexual purity, both in actions and the intentions of the heart. Nothing so ravages a life as sexual impurity.  So many relationships are strained and even destroyed because of this one thing.  Leading a legacy is living differently from the world.  Our children, and generations to come, need us to set an example of purity.

Everything about you matters.  Your words, your life, your love, your faith and your purity.  Use your one life to lead a legacy.  Begin today.