Not everyone can amass physical wealth to leave for the next generation as an inheritance. What we can leave behind that is of far greater value is a spiritual inheritance.
The Lord told David he would not build the temple. It would be his son, Solomon, who would be given the task. The amount and value of investment in the construction of the temple were astounding. It included 4,000 tons of gold and 40,000 tons of silver. Today, an ounce of gold is valued at almost $2,000.00. An ounce of silver is about $25.00. Do the math. At today’s prices the combined value of those precious metals alone is almost incalculable, let alone all the other building materials needed for the temple construction.
David had an assignment for his remaining days before he died, “So, David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death” (I Chronicles 22:5). What David accumulated, he would leave behind for Solomon to construct God’s temple during his lifetime.
There is no longer a physical temple. As the body of Christ we are a dispersed temple representing millions of believers spread about the world who carry the presence of God into all areas of life, including our families. Like David, we are to accumulate the spiritual building materials we gathered in a life of obedience to God as the spiritual building materials our descendants will use to construct the temple of their own lives.
As parents, we should do the best we can to build a solid financial base and make wise investment decisions for the future of our families. But sometimes, life can throw a curve ball at us and destroy the labor of our hands. No matter what happens in this life it cannot destroy the most important and most valuable of all possessions – leaving behind a life that was rich in fellowship with God.
To live faithful to God and to profess love and devotion to Him will leave to the next generation what is needed to build the temple of their lives where the presence of God is welcomed. That will be, in the long run of life, the most valued of all gifts of inheritance.
This is a great word, Garris. So often the world thinks ‘money and possessions’ are the only thing worth leaving to the next generation. Thank you for listening and then sharing your insights with those of us who read them.