Session 2

Will they miss you when you’re gone?

From Proverbs: A 31-Day Devotional

How will others remember us when we are no longer alive on this earth? This question may seem unimportant, but we are choosing how others will remember us by the way we live today.

How we live matters so much more than what we do or accomplish. Each day, we make a choice. We can choose to live a life wrapped up in what’s easy, comfortable, and all about ourselves, or we can choose to live a life focused on what the Lord wants for us.

Proverbs 10:27 says, “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” Fearing the Lord is different from being afraid. Fear of the Lord comes from awe. It’s what happens when we see Jesus for who He is and are filled a deep respect for Him.

How we live today is shaping a legacy others will either want to remember or want to forget.

When we live a life focused on the Lord, instead of ourselves, we discover how much He loves us. Nothing we could ever do would make Him love us more or love us less. The Lord wants to help us stand firm when life is hard (Proverbs 10:25), to crown our heads with blessings (Proverbs 10:6), and to give us everything we need to live (Proverbs 10:3).

How we live in response to God’s love affects our lives today and for eternity. Proverbs 10:16 promises that “The wages of the righteous is life…” When we follow Jesus and do what He says, we are filled with joy (Proverbs 10:28), we have hope (Proverbs 10:24), and we leave a legacy others will want to remember (Proverbs 10:7).

Reflect:

• How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? Take some time to think about your legacy and what you hope it will be.
• How is the way you’re living today affecting the legacy you want to have one day? Is there anything you need to start doing or stop doing to get there?
• If you want to know if you’re living for yourself, consider the following:
  • Am I bringing joy to those closest to me or causing them to worry?
  • Are the things I say helpful or harmful to others?
  • Can others trust me to do what I say I will do?