1 Corinthians 4:1-2Amplified Bible (AMP) Servants of Christ 4 So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal]. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.

1. Stewarding Oui Legacies
'f :
" Cblsdii'ir',iti6ie'brings.
, ': iip'a side of immortali
m4ny people don't thi
' ,about, What-do you tl
it would be like ro live
forever? Vhat would I
the pros and cons? ,
I 'When
you think
leaving a'legacy, who
the people whose lives
you have touched?
I Ifyouhave children,
what proactive thingis
you doingto instill
values in them?
Lord, rny influence in
life is on rnany people iry
lnany'ways. Help me tol
leaue a lasting, positiue
legacy in all areas of m1
hfr. :
CHAFIACTER
/isual aids make great memory joggers, don't they? vith the phenomenon of a dried-up
_V Jordan at the people's backs, Joshua turns them around for an object lesson. "Whai
do these stones mean?" is the natural inquiry God and Joshua expect from the ever curi-
ous children of upcoming generations. Nlticl that the riemorial ..I.br"t., not the people
involved in this historic event but the God who enacted the miracle (the second timeiome-
thing like this has happened!). Interestingly, these crossings of formidable bodies of water
bracket the events of the exodus (see also Ex 14).
'When
you think of your own legacy, what comes to mind? What kinds of memorial
stones will you'leave for the benefit of your descendants'and those whose lives you influ-
enced? Will others be reminded of God's leading in your life?
Evangelical leader Charles Colson poses a hypothetical scenario few of us have likely
considered:
Becairse we are fallen creatures, the idea that we could live forever is an invitation to
total irresponsibility. If we lived foiever, we would no longer'care about our children
because we could live beyorid them. we would feel no responsibility to pass on rhe
wisdom we have acquired in life. ve would become insufferable in our piesumed in-
vincibility. We see from history what happens to people
when they believe they have unlimited power-and how
much more power could we have to believe we could live
forever? That's why Godls judgment on humanity was
also a mercy; death delivers us,from enduring a r€v€r:
ending life of pride and isolation.
To the contrary, in the thought-provoking words of au-