#2: Live Well With A Capital “L”

“This is how it is with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21

Elderitis: a state of unfruitfulness in old age creating a disconnection with other generations through a desensitized spirit, a hardened heart, a foolishness of mind, an absence of purpose, a loss of impact, and a loss of respect. It is a state in which the inner man is no longer being renewed, where vision is replaced by reminiscence, and wisdom gives way to folly.

There are at least two types of people in the world. The first group is made up of people who live solely for what they can accrue for themselves—the bucket type. The second type is represented by people who live, not as buckets, but as pipes or conduits through which what they have and who they are combine for the purpose of serving others. Life flows through them and out of them. It does not end with them.

In either case a legacy is inevitably being constructed for future generations. The first is a legacy of selfishness, greed, and neglect; the second is a legacy of love, compassion and giving. To distinguish between the two, I have employed the term “legacy-builder” to describe the second type, particularly as it applies to those who are intentional about building a godly legacy in Christ for future generations.

Legacy builders are able to ward off the effects of elderitis because they have chosen to “live well”. To borrow a term my pastor, Matt Heard, frequently uses, to live well is to live life with a capital “L”. Life with a capital “L” is a life in Christ living in the fullness of Christ so that I experience Life as God intended. I think it’s a perfect way to also describe the “pipe type” legacy-builder—one who Lives well with a capital “L”.

A Legacy-builder is not driven by a need to consume and accumulate earthly treasures for himself. Rather, he delights in spending himself and all the assets God has provided for the benefit and blessing of others compelled by Christ’s love (see last week’s article). Living well is living a Life that is rich towards God, which means there is no room for wasting your life in the pursuit of building bigger “barns” knowing that God has much better purposes in mind.

What kind of legacy are you living now for future generations to inherit? Is it legacy with a small “l” or legacy with a capital “L”?

GRANDPAUSE: A godly legacy is developed over a lifetime as we choose day after day to live for Christ. –Stephen & Brooksyne Weber