Legacy

 In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness.

– Titus 2:27

We remember the Wright Brothers for their history-making contributions to aeronautics, Alexander Graham Bell for telecommunications and Henry Ford for transportation. The influences of their work reverberate to this day. Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson — America’s third president — wished only to be remembered for what’s inscribed on his tombstone:

Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence
of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom
& Father of the University of Virginia

Andrew Carnegie left a much different legacy. Born into poverty in 1835, he leveraged his thirst for knowledge to become a successful industrialist and eventually the world’s richest man. Carnegie sold his steel company in 1901 for what would be $13 billion in 21^st century dollars. And for the rest of his life, he became known as the Father of Modern Philanthropy by giving away most of his vast wealth. 

Carnegie underwrote the construction of 2,811 libraries, established a retirement pension for teachers and founded what is today Carnegie-Mellon University. By the time of his death in 1919, he was the primary financier of half of America’s public libraries. The premise of Carnegie's essay The Gospel of Wealth spoke volumes — in just a few powerful words — about what drove him to spread his riches:

“The man who dies rich dies disgraced.”

Millions of people still benefit from Andrew Carnegie’s legacy a century after his death. What’s more, there are biblical parallels to Carnegie’s example of generosity for the betterment of others. 

Our bank accounts might be modest when compared to his. But as Christ-followers, we have enormous wealth to share by living out the key messages of the Gospel — the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can tell others that he paid the price for our sins and theirs (past, present and future) when he died on the cross in our place. Then, just as predicted centuries earlier in the Old Testament, God resurrected him to life to forever defeat the power of sin and death in our lives. And it’s this same power that will one day raise all believers to eternal life and joy with our Creator.

Whether you’re 19 or 99, it’s not too late to establish your legacy. A skeptical world is watching to see how Christ-followers live out their faith each day. Let’s respond by sharing the riches of Christ’s transforming power in action.