Are we living for today or do we plan to leave a legacy? A legacy refers to the lasting impact of a particular action, event, or person. Also, the outcome of a legacy can be positive or negative. We choose the type of legacy we leave by what we do now. What does it all mean?
The Story: 1 Samuel 4:1-18
In 1 Samuel 4:1-18, the Philestines fought a battle against Israel and won. Israel’s defeat brought questions about why the Lord allowed them to lose. As a result of the loss, Israel decided to bring the ark of the covenant so God could bring victory against their enemies. When the ark arrived at the battleground, the people rejoiced.
Because the revelry was so loud, the Philestines heard the noise and became afraid. They knew the legacy of the ark, but determined to fight against Israel again to avoid becoming their servants. As a result of the new battle, Israel again lost and the sons of Eli, the priest, died. In addition, the Philestines took the ark. One of the men escaped the battle. He ran and told the remaining Israelites what happened. There was a great outcry. Because of the noise, Eli wondered what happened. The man told him this sons died and the Ark was taken. Due to the shock, Eli fell off his chair and died. He served Israel for 40 years.
Background – 1 Samuel 2
In Eli’s role as priest, he had the responsibility of ensuring that godly standards were upheld. He pointed the people to God. However, his standard fell short in connection to his sons. Therefore, Israel no longer served and revered God as they once did. Their hearts were far from Him. Therefore, God wasn’t with them in the battle. They thought the presence of the ark would outweigh the lack of God’s presence in their hearts. The loss to the Philestines and Israel’s disregard for God became Eli’s legacy. But what does it all mean?
The Lesson
Today, we can learn from Eli. We can determine the type of legacy we will leave. We have the opportunity to make an impact on one person or the masses. So what does Eli teach us?
- Know the assignment. What are we called to do? Ask God about it. He created you so He knows. Discover it. Seek after it with all your heart.
- Become proficient. Learn and implement everything you can. Become a subject matter expert.
- Hold the standard. Because of the diligent study and execution, the standard is set. When detractors come, uphold the standard. Someone once said, “Better than this will do.” Meaning, less than one’s best is unacceptable for the set standard is the guide.
So what does it all mean? It means that we promote excellence. We encourage others to achieve their best and highest standards. Importantly, it means that we fulfilled our purpose and left a legacy.
