What Will I build?

What will you BUILD?

What will be your LEGACY?

How will you MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?

These are the questions asked in one of the most recent TV ads for Habitat for Humanity.

As I listened to their commercial, it got me to thinking...How can I do those things?

What will I build? 

What will be MY legacy? 

How will I make the world a BETTER PLACE?

As I thought about each question, here are some answers I came up with-

What can I build?

There are lots of things we can build throughout our lives, but I want to focus on one- lasting relationships- “A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

In today’s fast-paced society, it is very hard to slow down and focus on the things that really matter. I know it’s very hard for me at times to remember that my sisters and my parents are more important than the book I’m reading, or the song I have to work on for church. I have to continually remind myself that these relationships are what will last, these are the things that will make up my life as I look back through the years, not the books I read, or the songs I play, or the emails I send out.

What will be my legacy?

This is a hard one to answer right off the bat. More than likely, when you think of a ‘Legacy’, you probably think of someone who has passed away. That’s what makes this so hard to answer right off, but think about it.

Everyone that has passed away has left a legacy, for some it’s a good legacy, for others, the families of the deceased would probably rather not talk about it. Some families have a very Godly legacy handed down from generation to generation, others wish they had that.

So, the question arises- how do you leave a legacy?

Well, right here, right now, you and I are building and creating our legacies! If the Lord tarries, one day, your great-great-grandchildren will be talking about what you did (or didn’t do), whether it be good or bad, and how it has affected their life. That’s a scary thought!

But think about it, through the ages many people have left a legacy. The ones we always recall are those that left a good legacy, but I’m sure within every family there is someone who left a not-so-appealing legacy. I know I have a couple in my own family. We don’t talk about the bad side of things most of the time, but the effects are still there.

So what legacy will I leave? What kind of legacy do I WANT to leave? What am I 

doing today, good or bad, that will effect future generations? We have to think about this now, because a legacy is not made in the last year or two or your life, a legacy is made over the course of a lifetime, and it’s largely effected by what you do while you’re young. 

So, start thinking generationally, not just for today. I’ll be right there with you!

How Will I Make the World a Better Place?

Have you ever heard someone say- “You make my life better just by being here”? Were they talking to you? Or were you eavesdropping on a conversation?  (caught you didn’t I?)

No matter where you heard it, did you know it’s true? 

So many people think that you have to go to the jungles of Africa or to the outback of Australia or to the mountains of China to make a difference. I know I thought that for a while.

But do you realize that you can make the world a better place just by smiling at someone? As I mentioned before, we live in a very fast-paced society, and so often, people are overlooked- The greeter at Walmart, the bagboy at BiLo, the little lady sitting by herself drinking coffee at the local restaurant- All of these people are special to God! But so often, they get left in the dust. Just by smiling and saying ‘Hi’, or “Thank you, and God bless you!” can change that person’s whole day, maybe even their life!

Another thing to do is follow God’s calling on your life. It’s different for every person. I have several friends who are answering the Call of Christ on their lives and it ranges from traveling all over the world to share the gospel, to being a missionary to one specific country, to ministering to the local children through Good News Clubs and Bible Study Fellowships.

If you do what the Lord has called YOU to do, no matter if you think it’s a big or small task, it is important (If it weren’t, God wouldn’t ask you to do it!) and it can make a difference!

I’m learning that it’s not always about the masses, it’s about the one soul. The Bible says the angels rejoice over one sinner who comes to repentance, so why should I think that just because I’m not witnessing to hundreds or thousands of people that what I’m doing is any less important?

I challenge you, do what God has called you to do! And if He hasn’t called you to something specific yet, find something to do (like truly greeting the greeter at Walmart), and do it with all your might! You won’t regret it, I promise!

So, What will You Build?