Legacy

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:11 (NIV)

“Its lonely at the top”

There are many reasons why this is a valid statement, be it issues of trust or otherwise. But for all the reasons for loneliness at the top, it’s more effective to take someone along.

One of the reasons to never go on the journey of leadership alone is this simple word: Legacy.

A leader could accomplish a lot in his time, but nothing is as important as leaving behind “people” that work. There is a problem if the people are not better than how you met them. Rome wasn’t built in a day but with the wrong people, it can crumble in a second.

The Apple that Fell Far from the Tree

The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 1 Kings 12:13 (NIV)

David was a leader. A man after God’s heart but his leadership suffered in one area.

Family.

In “Finishing Strong” by Steve Farrar, a fascinating book, Steve pointed out something about David. David’s family problems started long before he became king. His problems started while preparing to be king.

He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Deuteronomy 17:17 (NIV)

God described the godly king. David already took at least two wives after being anointed to be king. By the time he died, David had many wives and concubines whose number was not stated (2 Samuel 5:13). Clearly, this legacy was passed down.

Solomon followed in David’s footsteps in his love for God. Writing all those proverbs and giving a thousand burnt offerings was his expression of that love. But he took on and expanded the weakness of his father taking on 700 wives and 300 concubines. By the time of his death, his epitaph read: