February 1st, 2023
There comes a time in every man’s life when we grapple with this question. “What’s my legacy going to be?” Asking this question can be especially timely as we transition from one year to the next, setting goals and looking toward the future. We’re all going to leave a legacy. The question is whether we’ll leave it intentionally or it will just be created by accident.
As young men, this idea of legacy rarely shows up on our radar. We’re focused on other things, and the runway in front of us to create our legacy is long. Legacy seems far away and can be hard to focus on amidst everything else. Who has time for this?
As we mature, physically and spiritually, the runway gets shorter – and our relationship with legacy changes. It becomes more of a priority and something we think about more frequently. “When I’m gone, what will I leave behind?
That can be a daunting question. It can be easy to make our legacy about many things, some of which are very good and even Biblical. Using your finances to leave a legacy and further the kingdom is one way to approach answering what you’ll leave behind and where your priorities live. Equally important, though, is the imprint we make in the world when we serve others.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
– Matthew 20:26-28
Jesus spoke about servant leadership, but even more compelling, He lived it out. Specifically, the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the last supper illustrates what servant leadership looks like with a command that we follow His example.
So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
– John 13:4-5, 14-15
From our businesses to our living rooms to our communities, living a life focused on serving one another is one simple path to creating our legacy. A powerful way to live this out is to invest in the lives of other men. As we search for significance and generational influence in our lives, the brotherhood we share with other guys is significant.
What are some examples of this?
- Disciple another man through Operation Timothy
- Lead a Bible study at your church
- Support a man you know who is going through trials
- Spend time investing in the spiritual foundations of your sons
- Slow down and take time to share a meal together
- Be there for a brother who is dealing with health challenges
For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
– Luke 22:27
Becoming the man God wants you to be includes leaving a legacy behind that is based on investing in other men. If you want to reach your full potential and become more like the man God designed you to be, begin by serving your brothers, their families, and their children.
