What will be your legacy?

What will be said of your character? What words will be used to describe what is important to you? When others describe your passion what will they say? When asked to describe your life in one sentence, how will it read? Would family members describe you as kind or mean? Would co-workers describe you as hard working or lazy? Would strangers describe you as caring or indifferent? Would your husband or wife describe you as compassionate or cold? Would your children describe you as attentive or detached? Would business people describe you as honest or flakey? Would your church leaders describe you as trustworthy or undependable? Can anyone trust the words that come out of your mouth or are they meaningless? When you look in the mirror do you see a man or woman worthy of honor or do you see something else?

Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

Titus 2:6-8, “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

Proverbs 28:6, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”

Ephesians 4:29-32, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Proverbs 20:7, “The righteous man walks in his integrity. His children are blessed after him.”

James 5:12, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘yes’ be yes, and your ‘no,’ no, lest you fall into judgment.”

Proverbs 10:9, “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.”

Any person who exaggerates, speaks foolishly or doesn’t keep his word, robs the power of his testimony. If your word can’t be trusted, what can? We all make mistakes and errors, but there is a huge difference between error in judgment and an error in character. Webster defines honor as a good name or public esteem, (reputation), merited respect.

n Pastor Leo Kruger of Valley Christian Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers’ Association.