Why Focusing on Legacy Matters Now

One of the most frequent topics of conversation I have with people is about finding meaning and purpose in their work life. In the day to day, it can be hard to track the impact we are having but when we zoom out and see the big picture, it is easier to identify the value that we bring. This change of perspective has led me to consider the question of my legacy. Legacy building embeds meaning into what we do daily.

The idea of legacy has arrested my attention more than ever before. It has become a hub that generates a lot of my activity, from team building to system creation and cementing the core values of our company. The dictionary defines legacy in this way:

Legacy Defined: 

• a gift by will 
• something transmitted by or received from a predecessor or from the past
• practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
• something handed down from one generation to the next.

Legacy comes from the Latin verb, legare "to appoint by a last will, send as an ambassador." Originally, the noun meant "ambassador" or "envoy."

Personally, legacy means creating something that doesn’t end with me. It speaks of instilling something of value that will outlive me and as a result I have considered what kind of legacy I would want to leave. In a lot of situations legacy has become one dimensional and tends to mean an inheritance you would leave to your children. That is very biblical and is certainly important:

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children…” Proverbs 13:22

Leaving a Legacy

However, as I read God’s word, I see that there is more than money that we can leave as a legacy. The bible describes a legacy of faith and obedience, a legacy of generosity and serving. Beyond my children, I desire to leave a Godly legacy that will help and serve other people.:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

2 Timothy 2:2

"We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done."

Psalm 78:4

This idea of serving and leaving something for others became one of the driving forces to start Thrive Teaching.  

What are you leaving for others that builds the kingdom or makes the world a better place?

Case study 

I recently attended a legacy seminar hosted by the founder of Hobby Lobby, the goal of which was to train other families how to leave a legacy. Spending time with him reinforced the idea that legacy is so far beyond finances. He shared a story that really challenged me; At the start of his career, he became a manager in a popular chain of stores in his early 20’s. He was proud of his accomplishment and told his mom. Her response was “That’s great but what are you doing for the Lord?” A few years later he became the youngest district manager of this chain, and once again when he shared his new position, his mother responded 

“That’s great, what are you doing for the Lord.” He then started his first Hobby Lobby, which has now grown to over 11,000 stores. His mother’s signature response was “That’s great, what are you doing for the Lord?” I think that challenge meant something, as Hobby Lobby give half of their profits away to organizations that extend the kingdom of God around the world.

In spending time at this seminar, I have realized you are never too young or too old to start thinking about legacy. So, what will your legacy be? And what are you doing for the Lord?