What is a legacy? One definition from Webster’s Dictionary is “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past”. Check out this great example of a spiritual legacy in the Bible.
Do you remember the story in the life of King Solomon where God appears to him in a dream and tells Solomon to ask for something God will give him? And we know that Solomon asked for wisdom and God made him the wisest person in all history.
Did you ever wonder what made Solomon decide to ask for wisdom? How did he know that he needed wisdom in the first place? Don’t most of us as young people think we know everything, how come he was different? I’ll tell you why. David his father passed on a spiritual legacy. In 1 Chronicles 22 we have a record of King David as he was preparing to pass his throne to Solomon. David first tells Solomon the plans God had for him that he was to build the temple. Then David proceeds to blessed Solomon and pray for him.
What is really interesting is in Psalm 72 we have this prayer or a similar one recorded by Solomon. Right from the start David asks the Lord to give discernment and wisdom to the king so that he may judge the people rightly. David communicates how vital Godly wisdom is to a good king. The prayer goes on with words of blessing and instruction. It encapsulates the hopes, dreams and advice a father desires for his son. In so doing David gave Solomon a very clear legacy; follow the Lord, build His temple, and govern the people wisely. Solomon treasured this prayer of his father. He remembered it and wrote it into the Psalms of Israel. These words set a course for Solomon to follow. He found security in knowing who he was and what he should do with his life.
So… we see Solomon was prepared to answer the question that the Lord asked him. He drew on his father’s legacy to understand his own life and needs. It was simple “dad says I need wisdom… I better ask for wisdom”
Do you realize we can be that necessary person that gives a spiritual legacy to a kid? Through Spiritual Mentoring we can leave a legacy that will prepare a young person to know what to say when God speaks to their heart.