Will Your Success Have Successors?

Will your success have successors? Moses had a Joshua, David had a Solomon, Elijah had an Elisha and Paul had a Timothy. Each of these men were faithful followers of the Lord, but their time on earth was limited; the day came when they went the way of all men and someone had to take their place and carry on where they left off.

We may see the value of this principle among the great leaders in church and government, but I want to emphasize its importance in the basic unit of our society – the home; and the Christian home in particular. I don’t know of a more important place for success to have successors than the Christian home.

Today is Father’s Day, and I thank God for every Christian father present among us this day. But I have a question for you Dads; a question concerning your purpose, a question concerning your practice, a question regarding your very definition of prosperity… does it include your sons and daughters? Do you envision prosperity without reference to theirs? Are you working as hard at their success as you are at your own? 

Psalm 78:1-8 is one of the many passages in the Bible that lays this burden upon the hearts of the fathers. The idea of seeing to it that successive generations set their hope in God needs to be the passion of godly men. There is no success apart from God. The accolades of the unregenerate world will not provide one ounce of satisfaction when we stand before our Creator in heaven. Well done here is of little consequence if it is not “Well done” there. And Dads, if this is not communicated through your lips and through the various aspects of your life, it is rather unlikely that your children will own up to it or impart it to your grandchildren.

Dad, make it your highest priority to pass on to the next generation the godly disciplines and desires the Lord has given you. Allow me to give you four key attitudes

1) Be Purposeful – Make godly success the centerpiece of your parenting platform.

2) Be Passionate – Love it, live it, talk it, walk it, teach it, train it; don’t let them leave home without it!

3) Be Prayerful – You cannot do it without the Lord, you’ll need Him every step of the way.

4) Be Persistent – don’t give up, as long as you live.

Our contribution to the kingdom of God will increase exponentially as we impart the disciplines of godly success to our children - our ultimate successors.