Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 15: Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 16: Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. 17: A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 18: Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 19: The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 21: Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 22: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 23: Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. 24: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 25: The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Introduction

The Bible speaks a great deal about grandparents. Grandparents hold very important roles in the family. As someone has said, “The impact of grandfathers and grandmothers in history is impossible to calculate. The Bible tells us about grandparents who played an important role, in the way history went. Hezekiah was one of the best kings Israel ever had. His father, Ahaz, was one of the worst they ever had. But his grandfather was Jotham. The Bible says this about Jotham: “…he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Hezekiah took after his grandfather rather than his father. And the result was victory for the kingdom of God. Because of the powerful influence of grandparents there is always hope! Even if one generation goes astray, the next generation can be brought back through the influence of grandparents. They often bridge the gap between parents and children. They make major differences in the course of history.”

If you still doubt the great importance of a grandparent’s role in the family then listen to these statistics:

6.1 million - The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 live with them. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey)

2.5 million - The number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren who live with them. These grandparents represent about 40% of all grandparents whose grandchildren live with them. Of these caregivers, 1.6 million are grandmothers, and 896,000 are grandfathers.

5.7 million - The number of children living with a grandparent; these children comprise 8% of all children in the United States. The majority of these children, 3.7 million, live in the grandparent’s home. (Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2006)

Now let’s get to our text: Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Our text calls our attention to the relationship of grandparents and grandchildren. A good man leaves an inheritance not just to his children, but he leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. This is what characterizes a good man, a godly man—he leaves an inheritance not just for his children, but he leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren.

But what type of inheritance Proverbs 13:22 is speaking of? Is it speaking of a physical, literal inheritance? We often think of “inheritance” in terms of money, valuable possessions, or property. Leaving a material and financial inheritance in a wise manner is good stewardship and can be a great blessing to your grandchildren. But studies have shown that most of the time, inherited wealth or possessions do more damage than good to the next generation. Inherited wealth tends to breed irresponsibility. There’s an old saying that goes like this:

The first generation earns

The second generation saves

The third generation spends and squanders

The fourth generation has nothing left over.

It’s hard to appreciate what you did not work for. Though the word “inheritance” is usually associated with material possessions, there is another kind of inheritance that’s even more valuable. Our text is talking much more than passing down money to our children and grandchildren. Because many times leaving inheritance in the form of money and possessions is impractical, specially to the grandparent I heard about who has more than 20 grandchildren. That particular grandparent could be the best saver and he could be the best steward of his money and still at the end of his life literally has nothing to give to his grandchildren. If you interpret the “inheritance” in a physical sense and fail to do so, does that mean you are no longer good or godly man of the text? Interpreting the “inheritance” in terms of finances and possessions would undermine or contradict so many very important truths in the Bible.

So, what is Proverbs 13:22 is about? This verse is speaking of passing down a spiritual inheritance to the generations to come. This is the most priceless gift you and I can pass on to our children and grandchildren. When God takes us home, we leave behind a “spiritual inheritance,” a legacy that will long outlive us. This legacy can be either positive or negative. What legacy are you leaving behind? What do you want to leave to your children and grandchildren? I think a better question is, what are you really working hard right now to leave for your children and to leave for your grandchildren? Have you considered ways to leave an inheritance to your family that will have a more direct spiritual impact on them?

This morning let’s consider some spiritual inheritances that we can leave our children and our children’s children. This is not an exhaustive list but it’s a good start.

1. Model a love for God

If we are going to leave an inheritance that’s worth leaving and that matters for eternity, we have to model before our children and grandchildren a love for God. Teach them by your example that loving God is of great importance to you and that you believe what our Lord said in Matthew 22:37-38 when He was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

I understand that you and I cannot make our kids and grandkids love God, but we can model a love for God before them. And a true love for God is evidenced by our obedience to His Word. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)

Teach them by your example that you are fully convinced that the whole duty of man is to “Fear God, and keep his commandments” (Ecc 12:13)

2. Model a delighting in God’s Word

If we are going to leave an inheritance that’s worth leaving and that matters for eternity, we have to model before our children and grandchildren not only a love for God but also a delighting in the Word of God.

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

The Bible is the most important book ever given to mankind, and we have the responsibility to pass it on to our children and our children’s children.

Our Lord Himself declares that you and I cannot live without His Word. Listen to what He says in Matthew 4:4, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

This is an inheritance worth leaving our dear children and grandchildren—a delighting in the Word of God. If you want your children and grandchildren to respect the Word of God and live obediently, make it a priority in your own life. Let them see you reading your Bible. Be sure give them a copy of the Word of God and read it to them. Get them acquainted with the Word of God early in their life. You cannot start early enough giving them a knowledge of the Scripture. May it be said of them “that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:15)

3. Model a habit of prayer

If we are going to leave an inheritance that’s worth leaving and that matters for eternity, we have to model before our children and grandchildren not only a love for God and a delighting in the Word of God but also a habit of prayer.

Modeling in prayer is not just praying on Sundays or at the mealtime but making prayer a regular part of your life.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17: Pray without ceasing. 18: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

There are three commands there. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. These are three ways we need to be talking with God. It is on us to make sure that our kids and our grandkids know that that is happening. Continually in all circumstances.

Let me give you some things you could pray for your children and grandchildren:

1. Salvation

2. Love for God

3. Delighting in God’s Word

4. Habit of prayer

5. Love for the House of God

6. A pattern of obedience

7. Servant heart

8. Future spouses

9. Preserve their marriages

10. Forgiving heart (they will need this in their marriages)

Let your children and grandchildren know that you regularly pray for them. Let them hear you pray for them.

4. Model a life of faith

If we are going to leave an inheritance that’s worth leaving and that matters for eternity, we have to model before our children and grandchildren not only a love for God, a delighting in the Word of God, and a habit of prayer but also a life of faith. One of the most important gifts we can hand down to our children and grandchildren is faith in God and in the promises of God.

Tell them “without faith it is impossible to please God and that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb 11:6) Help them understand that faith honors God, and God honors faith.

Again, I understand that we cannot make our children and grandchildren believe. Faith cannot be handed down, but the influence of the faith is handed down. This can be done by living out our faith. Walk in faith. Walking in faith by definition requires that you are in a place that is unsure uncertain scary, you don’t know the end.

As someone has said, “If we are going to leave an inheritance that’s worth leaving, we have to be resolute that’s how we are going to live. We are going to live in faith even in season of life where probably difficult physically and in a world that is getting darker spiritually. So, let’s live a life that is characterized by faith which means trusting in God no matter what circumstances look like.”

These are just four things I would like us to consider this morning. As I have indicated this is not an exhaustive list, but this is a good start. You may think of something else in addition to these four, but may we work hard on these four.

Closing Thoughts

Now let me close with an excerpt from an article written by Nicholas T. Batzig entitled “A Spiritual Inheritance”.

“When we approach the subject of leaving our children a spiritual inheritance, we should be asking ourselves a series of diagnostic questions. These are only a few of the questions that we should be asking ourselves as we evaluate what sort of inheritance we are preparing for our children and grandchildren:

1. Do I model for my children what it is to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of sinners? Does my life reflect that I am broken over my sin and relying on the blood and righteousness of Christ alone for my salvation?

2. Does my life reflect the fact that I am humbly submitting myself to the word of God? Do I have an evident devotional commitment to the Lord through a daily and diligent study and meditation of His word and in prayer?

3. Is Lord’s Day worship the most important part of my week? Does my commitment to being in corporate worship with the people of God reflect that it is the highest joy and delight of my soul? Do I love spending time with and encouraging the people of God? Do I enjoy being with the saints on a regular basis (more than simply with them in worship on the Lord’s Day)?

4. Do I show a joyful submission to the pastors/elders of the local church to which I have committed myself?

5. Am I seeking to love my spouse in the ways that the Lord teaches me to do in His word? Am I seeking to fulfill my part of the marriage covenant in such a way that my children see it as analogous to (though very imperfectly so) the relationship between Christ and the Church?

6. Am I diligently teaching my children God’s word in family worship, helping them memorize Scripture, teaching them to sing God’s praises, prioritizing Lord’s Day worship, giving back to the Lord financially and lovingly disciplining them? Am I modeling what it looks like to ask them to forgive me when I have sinned in the home–in my relationship to them or to my spouse?

7. Am I using my time in ways that make it evident that I am seeking to live my life for the glory of God? Am I serving others by opening my home to them and exercising hospitality toward them?

8. Am I diligently serving in the church in a variety of capacities that best fits the spiritual gifts that the Lord has given me?

9. Am I committed to sharing the Gospel with those in the community in which I live? Am I seeking to exercise mercy to those in need around me in the church and community?

10. Is the fruit of the Spirit evidently being borne in my life? Would others consider me to be a person full of love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control?

When we seek to answer these and similar questions honestly, we will have to admit that we have failed in many ways (James 3:2). None of us can say that we have done all of these things to the degree to which–and with the heart with which–we ought to have done them. When we ask the Lord to deal honestly with us in examining us by His word in these things, we must go back to Christ for growth in grace and progress in seeking to be faithful to what He wants from us. In so doing, we will find that we are storing up for our children a spiritual inheritance that may last far beyond the next generation. May God give us the grace that will work in us a desire for this inheritance most of all.”

AMEN!