What’s Left?
“So don’t be impressed when someone grows rich, when their wealth multiplies, and their glory increases. For when they die, they will carry nothing with them, and their wealth will not follow them into the grave. Though they consider themselves blessed in life and even people praise you when you do well for yourself, they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who are rich without understanding are like the beasts that perish.”
-Psalm 49:16–20 (TPT)
What Will You Leave Behind?
Life is a gift. But no matter how much we chase success, comfort, or pleasure, the truth remains: one day, each of us will leave this world. On a recent road trip, my wife read Psalm 49 aloud to our family. As I listened, a question stirred in my heart:
“When I’m gone… what will I leave behind?”
Psalm 49 describes someone who works hard, gains wealth, and earns the praise of others but in the end, carries none of it with them. They leave this life empty-handed. They’ve gained everything the world could offer, but lost what truly matters.
The Kingdom Legacy
This passage isn’t about avoiding success or rejecting wealth. It’s about understanding that earthly success is not eternal. The only things that last are the things we do for the Kingdom of God. So I began to ask myself:
“What am I doing today for God’s Kingdom that will outlive me?”
After all the jobs are finished, the money earned, the vacations taken, the dreams chased, and the applause fades… what’s left? What remains is your legacy.
Your Legacy Is Being Written Now
Here’s the sobering truth: everyone leaves a legacy. Good or bad. Intentional or unintentional. Consider two historic figures:
• Billy Graham - a man who preached the Gospel to millions, leaving a legacy of faith and eternal impact.
• Adolf Hitler - a man who used influence for evil, leaving a legacy of destruction and sorrow.
Both men are gone. Both changed the world. And their legacies still shape lives today, one for good, the other for evil. You and I may never have global fame, but make no mistake, your life matters. Your decisions ripple through generations. That means your legacy begins right now.
Legacy Is Built One Day at a Time
Here’s the encouraging truth: you get to choose the legacy you leave.
Every day, with every decision, you are building something. Every act of love, every moment of service, every Kingdom-centered choice—it all adds up. Ask yourself:
• How will today’s choices affect those I love?
• Will this moment point people toward Christ?
• Am I building something that will last beyond my lifetime?
Legacy isn’t about your name being remembered. It’s about your impact, pointing people to Jesus and carrying others forward.
A Final Charge
Jesus reminded us in Matthew 6:19–20:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven…”
We can’t take our wealth with us, but we can send our legacy ahead by investing in people, love, and the Kingdom of God. So today, live with eternity in mind. Make choices that echo beyond your lifetime. And build a legacy that points others to Christ.
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