What Will I leave My Children?

TEXT: Ephesians 6:1-4

INTRODCUTION

1.               Several years ago, a young heiress inherited a large fortune. After several months of flitting around the earth with the “Jet Set.” She was found dead in the lavatory of a chartered jet liner. The note she left behind said, “I had millions to live on and nothing to live for.”

2.               In a very real sense, her father had left her nothing.

3.               According toe Social Security figures, the average 65 year old holds a 22-year mortgage and only has a few hundred dollars in cash available. People are not planning for the future.

4.               Some day we must al leave this world. Most of us will not out-live our children, so we need to ask, “What will I leave  my children?

5.               What is the heritage that I will leave them as they move through youth to middle age, to those final golden years?

6.               What do  I want to leave my children the hour of parting comes.

DISCUSSION:

I.        A good name – reputation

A.              Solomon emphasized repeatedly, the value of a good name.

(Proverbs 22:1 NKJV)  A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

(Eccl 7:1 NKJV)  A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth;

B.              We should pray that we would live in such a way that our children can wear our names with pride.

C.              Think about the importance of a good name.

1.               It s credit in the bank

2.               It will open doors of opportunity.

D.              A bad name is a burden all through life.

1.               Imagine being the son of Benedict Arnold.

2.               Dr. Mudd’s children are still trying to clear the name of their great grand father. Why?

E.              We should live so that those who know us will love and trust our children.

F.               Parents, consider  your life habits.

G.              1 Thess. 5:22

II.        The Memory of a Good home

A.              When the Prodigal Son sat broken-hearted in the hog pen, in a foreign land, he had been stripped of nearly everything – everything that is except his memories of Home.

B.              It was this memory of home that brought him back.

(Luke 15:17 NIV)  "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

C.              The voices of parents stilled in death can – through the years – speak more clearly than even in life.

D.              How important it is to make your home Christian

III.    A personal example.

A.              A personal example of faith in God and loyalty to his word.

1.               Here we all fall short but must continue to strive to do better.

B.               Personal example of honesty and integrity.

C.              A personal example of a Christian mate.

D.              An example of seeking first the kingdom of God.

1.               Work schedules

2.               School Schedules

3.               Entertainment.

IV.    A Christian education

A.            A good Christian education is found in Luke 2:52

(Luke 2:52 NIV)  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

(Eph 6:1-4 NIV)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- {3} "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." {4} Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

B.               See you studying your Bible Daily.

C.               See that Bible Stories are read to them when they are young.

D.              Bring them to Bible School.

E.              Talk to them about the value of Christian education.

V.      The Value of the Beautiful

A.              God has surrounded us with such a beautiful world.

(Psa 119:18 NIV)  Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

(Psa 103:2 NIV)  Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

(Phil 4:8 NKJV)  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

B.              There is the beauty of nature, music, literature, art and above all the beauty of holiness

(Psa.29:2 NKJV)  Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

VI.      An earnest, sincere faith in God

A.              Faith is the foundation for victorious living.

B.              A Deeper faith is the object of Christian life

(Rom 1:16-17 NKJV)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. {17} For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

A righteousness of God (dikaiosuneô theou). Subjective genitive, “a God kind of righteousness,” one that each must have and can obtain in no other way save “from faith unto faith” (ek pisteoôs eis pistin), faith the starting point and faith the goal (Lightfoot). 

Is revealed (apokaluptetai). It is a revelation from God, this God kind of
righteousness, that man unaided could never have conceived or still less attained. Title:   Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 4: Epistles of Paul Author:   Robertson, Archibald Thomas

C.              Most of us will not leave our children with a great deal of money, or land. This matters little. But, we can leave them a heritage of righteousness.

CONCLUSION:

1. “ A child identifies his parents with God, whether or not the adults want that role.”

   James C. Dobson (1936- )