It’s for the Children’s Children

(Proverbs 13:22 KJV)  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Here is a mark of a “good man” (2896a) that we don’t often think about.  He doesn’t drive one of those RV’s with the bumper sticker that says, “We’re spending our children’s inheritance.”  A “good man” builds up something to leave to his grandchildren.

It would seem obvious that this involves financial wealth but don’t go too fast or too far in that direction.  One of the sad truths that you can observe by looking around is that leaving your children a lot of money can destroy them.  This is observed even by the secular world.  One generation earns the money.  The next lives on it.  The third is destroyed by it. 

What should be obvious is that there are immaterial inheritances that are being considered.  We leave our children a spiritual heritage.  We demonstrate what it means to follow the living God.  We live our ethics and our love.  Our goal should be to pass it on so that our children can pass it on.

So?  Keep your sense of perspective.  It may well be that the example you set in the hard times is good but the example you set in the good times is even more important.  You never stop living the example.