Jump Start # 3045

 Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

  Last week we had one of our grandchildren with us. “B” is seven, or in her words, “seven and a half, almost eight.” She spent four nights with us. That’s the longest we have had one of the grandkids by themselves. And, she was a delight and a doll. On one of our trips into town, she said, “PJ (that’s me), it’s been a long time since you had a seven and a half year-old in your backseat, isn’t it?” And, she’s right. All my kids are in their 30’s now. It’s been a long time since I had a seven year old in my backseat. On our trip to meet her mother to return her, we spent a long time playing verbal games in the car. I’d say a book of the Bible and she had to say the next one. We played guessing games. We went through some of her multiplication tables, especially the 7’s.

And, here are a few lessons I learned:

First, grandparenting is fun. Sometimes as a parent, you are in the middle of constant messes, battles, instructions and there never seems to be an end. But my little car ride with B reminded me of the things I once did with her mother, my daughter. Lots of questions. Lots of little quizzes. Lots of exploring things with our imaginations. As your kids age, much of those sweet innocent things are no longer used. One forgets what it is like to have a seven, or more accurately, a seven and a half year-old in the backseat.

Second, there is a lot of teasing about grandparents spoiling their grandkids. I understand. I’m all for that. I have a case where I keep some of my cufflinks. Often I don’t arrange them as they should be. That’s the job B does when she visits. I pay her to do that. I pay her way too much, but I like doing that. I believe one reason grandparents spoil is that they can. Money is tight when the kids were small. Something was always breaking and needing replaced. Someone was always going to the doctor. Glasses. Braces. Clothes. The budget was very thin during those days.

But another reason I believe we spoil is that as a parent there is such an unknown. Parenting isn’t for cowards. But as grandparents, we’ve gotten through to the other side. Car wrecks. Surgeries. Lost cell phones. Toilets overflowing. Death of pets. Air conditioning going out. Dating. Sports. Victories. Losses. Breaking up. Pimples. First jobs. Baptisms. Funerals. Happy days. Sad days. Grandparents have the scars, the badges and the stories. What is such a big deal to the young parents, isn’t to the grandparents. We are less stressed than the parents who are in the weeds of raising those little ones.

Third, those sweet tinder hearts are soft and so easily influenced. Grandparents need to set the right example. Those little ones will long remember what we did, what we said, even after we are on the other side of life. Now, a mistake grandparents make is to undermine what the parents are doing. Unless it is something that is wrong, support and go along with what the parents are doing. They are the parents, not you. One of the greatest things grandparents can do is to keep that spiritual light burning bright. I still remember going to church services with my grandparents. It was a small country church, with large windows. I remember looking out the windows and seeing cows grazing next door. The crowd was small. The singing wasn’t so great. But what fond, fond memories I still have. Just the other day, I drove by that country church building. I just wanted to see it again.

Grandkids will out smart us grandparents when it comes to using cell phones, tablets, and remotes. They know those things. And, trying to figure out a car seat nearly requires an engineering degree. And, one of the wonderful connections you have with your grandchildren is the family legacy and history. Share that. Let them know that. And, where possible, teach them about the spiritual legacy within your family. Generations of believers. First time believers. The importance of worshipping God. The value of the Bible. The good of serving others. Without realizing it, you are adding life lessons that can mold them into powerful servants of the Lord.

Our verse today is wrapped around the idea of grandparents and grandchildren. A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren. That may be referring financially, but there is a much richer inheritance and that is love shared, time enjoyed together and lives intersected. Years from now, if the Lord allows, and many of us are on the other side, what will our grandchildren remember about us? Will they even care? Or, have our lives so touched each other that we leave amazing footprints for them to follow. A spiritual inheritance is the greatest blessing you can give to your family.

After B left, I had to take a nap. I had forgotten how intense life with a seven and a half year-old can be. No wonder parents look ragged when they walk into a church building. They carry enough bags that you’d think they were backpacking for a month. But what a blessing it is to see them there.

Thanks, little B for some fun days!

Roger

Jump Start # 2891

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.”

We have had several funerals this year. After the funeral homes, cemeteries, and the grief lifts a bit, there is the going through things. A house has to be dealt with. Clothes. Paperwork. And, from our passage, inheritance. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children—we call that grandchildren.

Here are a few thoughts I have learned:

First, it’s a blessing when a person has put some thought into this. There is still meetings, paperwork and lots of things to be done, but it sure is a whole lot easier when things are spelled out, and simplified this way. Some don’t want to think about death. Some must have the idea that they are going to take another exit ramp and avoid death. It’s not going to happen. And, one can leave things in such a mess, where no one knows where important papers are, which bank holds the lock box, and the layers of burdens can be frustrating. Don’t do that to your family. Get your house in order is what Hezekiah was told. That begins spiritually, but includes financially and letting others know where things are.

Second, inheritance can be a blessing or it can be a curse. We see the downside of it through the children of Hollywood’s stars. No responsibility, too much money, no plans and that’s all it takes for drugs, disaster and heartache. I know of at least four or five congregations that received money from estates this year. Again, that can be a blessing or a curse. People can go through money, just like eating M & M’s and there is nothing left to show for it. An inheritance can change the future for some. Paying off debt, investing, building a college fund, learning to be generous as others have been to you are some of the upsides to an inheritance.

Third, a greater blessing to our grandchildren is our legacy and walk with the Lord. A lifetime of faithfulness, a journey of trust, a period of helping others, serving the Lord, are memories and lessons that can help our grandchildren for a long time to come. As your grandchildren get older, let them see your Bible. Let them flip through and see the worn pages, the words underlined and the comments left in the column. Your old Bible has helped you and shaped you. It’s a treasure chest of your faith and heart that loves the Lord. What a blessing to pass that old Bible on to someone who will honor and treasure it.

Fourth, the memories you build now with your grandchildren will be something that will live on long after you are on the other side. I still have fond memories of my grandparents. I can hear my grandma sort of whistling as she swept the kitchen floor. She was cheerful, sweet and a blessing. When she passed, there was little that I received. But since my dad passed, I now have her diaries, pictures and lots of things I treasure dearly. Are they worth anything? Nope. But they belonged to someone I loved. More important than leaving money is leaving you in their hearts. Without a relationship, in many ways all you are doing is giving money to a stranger who happens to be in the family tree. It takes time to build those relationships, but do it the best you can.

Finally, in order for a good man to leave an inheritance to his grandchildren, he must be planning, thinking and working that way. Spending it all on self and living paycheck to paycheck will not leave anything, other than debt and a mess for someone else to clean up. I suppose the passage calls this person “good” because he’s put thought into others and not just himself. He wants to help others. The word “good” is not used very often in the Bible. Very few people are called “good.” And, here, as we often use it, it is because of what he is doing. He is a good man because he is helping others. He is making a difference.

I believe one of the greatest torches that we can pass on to the next generation is that of generosity. Kind words. A joyful spirit. A faithful life. A generous heart. Those are blessings to both the present and future generations.

A good man does more than recognize those things—he has become those and is using them to help others. This is a breath of fresh air in the stale, selfish times that we live in.

Roger

Jump Start #1209

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

The inheritance. Everyone would love to have that rich uncle who just happened to leave his estate with you. To have been born in the family of the Rockefeller’s, the Kennedy’s, or today, Bill Gates’ family, can bring dreams of selfish spending on fleets of cars, and homes in different cities and shopping sprees to foreign destinations. Oh, the fun, we may think. Be careful. Don’t forget Ecclesiastes and the vanity of vanities, and the striving after the wind.

Instead of talking about the receiving end of the inheritance, we need to devote some attention to the giving end of the inheritance. That’s how this verse is directed. Before the younger generation among us shouts a hearty “AMEN,” they need to be thinking about what they will leave to others. Children’s children are simply grandchildren in our words today. I’m getting several lately. Three now and rumors of more to come. Love the grandkids. Their cute faces and innocent ways can melt any heart.

Now some thoughts about money. Some are uncomfortable with this subject. Maybe it’s because they need help. Others do not feel that it belongs in a discussion at church. How wrong they are. Jesus talked more about money than He did Heaven. Have you noticed how much Luke alone deals with money: the rich ruler, the story of the good Samaritan, Zaccheus is called very rich, the farmer who wanted to tear down barns and build larger ones, the rich man and Lazarus, the prodigal son. Money issues are important. They are important to God. Families that live paycheck to paycheck are putting themselves on the brink of disaster. Far too many have a massive hole dug called debt.  They begin to wonder if they will ever get out of that hole. Joseph prepared Egypt for coming disaster. During good years they stored up so when lean years came, they not only survived, but they helped others. Many only spend more in the good years and panic when the lean years come. Too many view the church has the solution to their problems when many of their problems were caused by poor management not famines.  The current stats about personal debt and personal saving is scary. There is a huge waterfall that many are facing but they do not realize it. They will have to hope that their children’s children will bail them out of the messes they created.

These current trends reveal that many are not good stewards. This is more than not good, it’s not Biblical. God expects and wants us to be good stewards. More than that, we are showing that we are not in the position to help others. The story of the good Samaritan wouldn’t work today because the Samaritan would be maxed out on his credit cards and he couldn’t help out. We are crippling the good we can do because we don’t have any money. We are also showing that we haven’t learned contentment. Paul told the Philippians that he learned the secret. Most haven’t gotten that yet.

Money problems strain marriages. Those problems keep us up at night. We become filled with worry because we don’t know what we are going to do. The way things are, most hope to work until they are 80. What if you can’t? What if they don’t want you? What then? In too many homes, husband and wife are not on the same page and too often one doesn’t know what the other is doing financially. It’s a real mess.

I hope I have painted a dark picture for you. This is what is going on today. This is happening among God’s people. Bankruptcy isn’t a solution. It’s running from your obligations. When you use a credit card, you are promising to pay that back. If you don’t have that intention, you are living dishonestly. You are lying. Leaving something for our children’s children…are you kidding? Most have nothing to leave. Period!

Congregations need to teach Biblical principles about money. This is a spiritual issue. We’ve had our heads stuck in the sand for far too long. It’s time to be honest, open and Biblical.

Three principles to consider:

1. Make money without neglecting your soul. Money buys a house, but not a home. Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail. Money isn’t everything. Jesus said, “What does it profit if a man gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” What good is it? There are no U-haul’s pulled by the hearse. How much will you leave? Everything. All of it. If we spend all of our time making money, but it causes us to lose our soul, it has been a poor endeavor. Tell your boss when you are interviewing for a job that you want Sunday’s off. Missing worship for very long affects your soul. Before long, you’ll get used to it. Then, you’ll like it. Then, you’ll think that you don’t need it. Your faith will starve and your choices will hit bottom. It’s ok to make money, but feed your soul. And do that often.

2. Save money without ignoring others, especially the kingdom of God. Don’t horde, nor become a miser or tightwad. God is generous. Be that way. Be helpful to others. Save. Have a plan. Stick to it. Work that plan. Don’t count on others to be your retirement. You save. Invest. Get smart with money. Don’t waste it. Help the young preacher. Be there for others.

3. Spend money without it defining your life. Don’t think you are a big shot because you live in a big house or drive a nice car. Remember that you are a sinner that needs Jesus. We all are. Side by side in the cemetery lie the rich guy and the poor guy. In life so different, in death, the same. It’s ok to have nice things if you can afford them. You should not have to apologize to others, especially brethren, especially preachers, that you bought a new outfit, a new car, or took a nice trip. We ought to be thankful that you can do that. Don’t be jealous when others do and you can’t. Don’t feel less of a person or a Christians because they do and you don’t. Our lives are not defined by what we have but who has us—Jesus.

A side point here. Often, Christians will use another Christian to have some work done. They often expect a “discount” because we are Christians. If he wants to give you a discount that’s his business, but don’t expect, nor ask for it. That’s tacky and trashy. I’d rather give a Christian more because I know he won’t misuse the money.

Giving to my children’s children. I want to do that. It must be more than a dream. There has to be a plan that gets a person from point A to point B. Without that plan, this becomes nothing more than wishful thinking.

Money—what an important topic. May God bless you to use it wisely. May it not become the very item that keeps you from Heaven.

Roger

Jump Start # 693

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

Ten days ago I became a grandpa for the first time. Everyone tells me that it is a wonderful journey. The thought of me being a grandfather is scary. Grandfathers are supposed to quote wise sayings and be a bit philosophical about life. I guess I’ll have to quit being a goofball and step up to the plate for my little granddaughter. All of these things have made me think about Bible verses about “grandparents.” I’ve not given that much thought before. Well, I am now. I’m there. It’s amazing how life opens up new sections of the Bible to our eyes.

I will take a few days to look at passages about “grandparents.” For our readers who are not there, hang in there. I tend to find something to fit all of us.

Our passage that we start this journey with is very interesting. Specifically, the writer is talking about money. A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren. There are two thoughts here:

1. A person must be thinking about this while he is working, earning and saving. It’s before the grandparent years kick in that the steps are taken to fulfill this. Far too many need to take a serious look at how they spend and what God says about stewardship and contentment. My generation loves to spend. I’m part of that. Given a dollar, we’ll find a way to spend two. That catches up after a while. Living paycheck to paycheck is dangerous. Someday our boat will go over the falls if we don’t make some adjustments. The only way a good man can leave an inheritance to his grandchildren is by saving as he works and earns. Spending everything is going to leave grandparents broke and in need of help from the kids. That’s not being fair to them. Following the pattern of Congress is a path of doom. Spend less than you earn. Write a budget every month and stick to it. Invest and don’t touch it. Get out of debt quickly. Don’t be defined by what you have. Be generous as God is to you.

2. There is a far greater inheritance than money—it’s spiritual. I see the upside and downside of this in many places. The upside is when you see three or four generations all worshipping together. It’s awesome. There have been lessons taught at home and examples that have been followed. I have seen grandfathers baptizing grandsons. Tears flow. It’s sweet to witness.

The downside of this is when you see grandparents worshipping but there is a generation missing—their kids. Something happened. Maybe it was at the church…maybe it was at home…maybe it was just the decision of these grown kids. But a generation was lost. There is no interest. I have seen grown children drive up to the church building and drop off their aged parents who can no longer drive and then the kids drive off. They show up after services. No desire to park the car and come in with mom and dad. And now, the grandkids are around. Grandparents try to get them to Bible classes and VBS. Sometimes they are allowed to come. Other times they are at home with their parents. How sad.

One of my precious memories is going to Coal City in the summers and going to worship with  my grandparents. It was a very old church building, bright red on the outside, with old pews and old people, but I sure loved it. I could look out the windows of the church building and see cows grazing. For a city boy, that was cool. My grandma got to hear me preach before she passed away. That’s precious to me. My dad has heard my son preach. That legacy and memory is special to those of faith.

It is an important inheritance to pass on to the grandkids, the love of God and the ways of the Lord. Telling them the stories of the Bible, answering their questions and letting them hold your Bible is special.

There is a spiritual torch that grandparents are handing to their grandchildren. There is something special in knowing that the future includes those who love and follow the Lord. Take time to talk about the Bible to your grandchildren. Teach them to say prayers to God. Teach them the songs and hymns that we sing. Help them to know the books of the Bible. If they don’t have a Bible, that makes an incredible gift to them. Be sure to sign your name in the Bible. That will always be dear to them.

A good man will do these things…

Roger