Advanced Planning
We enjoyed connecting with the Munn family last night to celebrate father’s day and Stephanie’s birthday, which is today. It is also an anniversary date for Debbie and me, forty-one years! I left Atlanta on a 6 a.m. flight, so I was up at 2 a.m. east coast time. Glad for a good trip to Atlanta and a good time there and a good trip home.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.” 1 Chronicles 22:5 ESV
1 Chronicles for the Bible reader can be a lot like Leviticus. The goal is just to get through the laborious list of names in genealogies and the chapters of organizational details. However, when we view what is taking place it reveals some important processes and some lessons that we can apply to our lives.
David had a great vision for building the Lord’s Temple. However, it was not a vision that he would be able to fulfill. But instead of that being a discouragement, it put David on a course to ensure that his vision and dream would come to pass.
David was a “man of war.” Solomon would be a “man of peace.” Solomon would be the beneficiary of David’s victories and efforts to unify and secure a great kingdom. But David was not going to take a, “let Solomon figure it out” approach to life and the future.
David made sure all the plans were in place and the materials were provided for the construction of the Temple. But David went beyond the physical structure. As we read through the chapters of 1 Chronicles we see his attention to organizing the priests and levites, musicians and gatekeepers as well as the military divisions.
David was, as we often say, “setting his house in order.” He was making plans while he was alive, for that which would out live him. He was intent on a legacy. That is something we can learn from David and apply to our lives.
With age inevitably comes an awareness of the end of one’s life. So each person has the choice to just live out their years or to make plans for their years to out live them. That doesn’t always have to do with financial planning and “leaving an inheritance” for family members. Even if you out lives your money, there is still a legacy that can remain.
As a pastor, I have been impressed by those who had the foresight, to make arrangements for their families in advance of their death. It not only brought greater peace at the time of death, but set the stage for the family moving forward in life. I have also seen the confusion and anxiety when family members were left to “figure it out” on their own.
David’s greatest legacy was not a financial one. It was one that had a focus on worship to the Lord and ensuring that the Lord’s presence would be in the center of His people. With that in mind, we need to remember that our greatest legacy, the one that will live on for ever, is the spiritual legacy that impacts generations to come.
Prayer for today….. Lord “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Prov. 90:12) Help us to make sure that our life’s journey reveals forethought about the legacy we will leave.