Father - Leaving An Inheritance

Today, we want to celebrate our Dad’s and give thanks for all they do and for who they are

I am very grateful for Godly dads who understand what’s at stake with their children

Dads who have chosen or are choosing the important over the urgent

I hate how Dads are portrayed in TV shows nowadays as the buffoon of the family

I read a proverb a day – have for years – and I read again Proverbs 13 this past week

One verse particularly stood out as I have been thinking about father’s day and if I have been a good father to my children

Our verse today is Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous”

The part that stuck out was “A GOOD MAN LEAVES AN INHERITANCE FOR HIS CHILDREN’S CHILDREN”

You may not have had a good dad growing up…what do you have to offer now that you’re a Dad?

What kind of inheritance can you leave? That’s what I want to talk about and just tell you from my perspective what I felt I left to my children and grandchildren

Listen, you may not can do anything about your ancestors but you certainly have a huge say in your descendants

Pray

DEFINE INHERTANCE – Hebrew means “take as a heritage”

DICTIONARY – something left as an heir – a legacy

Trans: I looked at this verse and I noticed the very first part says A GOOD MAN

1. WHAT IS A GOOD MAN?

How do you define a good man? We know the bible says none of us are good

So the first thing I had to get right was being a good man – but according to the bible – I’m not able to be good!

When I look up the original – the word GOOD means “moral good” – now I’m really in trouble

Jesus said in Mark 10:18 “No one is good but one, that is God”

God got a hold of my life – introduced me to His Son Jesus and what He did for me – I received it – HE MADE ME GOOD!

God’s great salvation made me good – He made me in right standing with Him physically, spiritually, and morally!

So the first inheritance I wanted to give my children and grandchildren was the great salvation that God gave me – God’s Kingdom

John 3:3 “Unless one is born again, he cannot ENTER (inherit) the kingdom of God”

I wanted them and still want them to understand that it is Jesus in my life that makes me a good man – PERIOD. And they need Him and His salvation

God will give them the best inheritance of all – His Kingdom

Acts 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified”

Trans: Notice, I commit you to God (His Kingdom) and to the WORD…so another inheritance I want to leave my children is…

2. A LOVE FOR GOD & HIS WORD

I can tell you that I really love God’s Word – it is the life changing force that can take the vilest of people; people of hatred and make them full of love and grace

When I read about all that God has done and continues to do for me – I can’t help but have a great love for God

I value what God’s Word has done and continues to do in my life – it is the life giving force in which everything else flows out of

Look at this picture of my closet – look at all these different bibles I have (like shoes)

I read, memorize, study, listen to it, and meditate on it…Nothing has influenced my life more than the Word of God

It continues to shape me and mold me – it is the potter’s wheel in which God uses to shape, repair, mend, correct, rebuke, train and instruct my life with

I take it in daily – which is the recommended daily dosage – LOL – and more than once a day most of the time

I want to pass on the heritage of my love for God’s word to my children – I do that by introducing them to it early in life

I do that by making it an important part of our family life – discuss it – search it together – find the jewels tucked below the surface

Trans: With Jesus in me…making me good…with His word changing me from the inside out…the next inheritance I want to leave them is…

3. MARRIAGE DONE GOD’S WAY

The best gift Dads can give their children growing up is to let them SEE that He loves their mother (Ephesians 5 is a great read for husband and wife)